LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Gijnii:-'' t^ri^i !>..;..... 
Shelf JkZi& 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



ppri,npHMnpiiiiilf!Hiiiiipiii mmpiHinpniiniiii ipi>nn|pini|p<fli|piun|p^^ uipi ^pnrt| 



w 2:12 AT 3 YEARS OLD 
Sold for 8105,000. 




/Uleftol} 



2:09 1 4at5YearsOld i 



anMiililitn ■■" 'U tl) m ai.,,iHUii„ ■ I iiUi...„hiUi fiiili uin.."iii iHii, mi) y^-.inflj ahi,... t um M ..iidlhi. ..mlUi...inUiu.,.tuatimniiULm* miittlu 




d(7 rr. nLot^u^^f 



^xtell $ s^llerton. 



THEIR PERFORMANCES AND SUCCESSES, 



TOGETHER WITH 



A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



OF THEIR OWNER. 



C. W. WILLIAMS, 

To Whom the Fame and Prosperity of the Western Trotting 
Horse is Justly Due. 



T 






BY H. C. HARDllS'cr ****?** 

WEST LIBERTY, lOWT^ MAY I 9 J$< 



CEDAR RAPIDS. IOWA: 
II. Y REPUBLICAN PRINTING AND BINDING HOUSE 
1892. 



<? 



^F 



COPYRIGHT, 1892, 

By H. C. HARDING. 



TO THE READER. 



The writer of this little volume does ?wt claim to be a 
writer, as the term is generally used. The intent has been 
simply to give in as few words as possible an account of 
the wonderful success of C. IV. Williams, the acknowledged 
peer of all horsemen. There are but few people that do 
not admire a good horse. Therefore a history of the great- 
est pair of trotters that ever lived, together with a sketch 
of the man who bred and developed them, should be of 
interest. If this end has been attained, the writer will 
feel that his effort is not in vain. 



/^xtell aoci ^iTeptoQ. 



CHAPTER I. 

C. W. WILLIAMS. 

Charlie Williams came to Iowa when quite 
young with his father, and settled on a farm near 
Jesup, Iowa, only a short distance from Inde- 
pendence. The elder Mr. Williams not being over- 
burdened with the good things of this world, and 
having a large family dependent upon him, it was 
necessary that each one should do his part. There- 
fore we find "Charlie", as he was called, thus early 
in life doing whatever came in his way that would 
bring in an honest dollar, and if there was not a 
dollar in it, he was just as ready to secure one- 
fourth of the amount. In this way he was taught 
when but a boy the great and all important lesson 
of self reliance, without which no man is likely to 
succeed. 

When still young, he undertook to learn teleg- 
raphy. He took a position in the Illinois Central 



6 C. IV. WILLIAMS. 

office at Jesup, and in a short time, mastered the 
art of handling electricity, and was given the night 
office at that place. After filling the position ac- 
ceptably for a time, he gave it up and accepted a 
position with the same company at Independence, 
Iowa. He filled this place for quite a while. 
But this kind of employment did not suit him. 
Being a man of ability and possessed of ideas of 
his own, it is not strange that he sought some oc- 
cupation that would be more congenial, — in short, 
a business in which he could make his own plans, 
and in a great measure, dictate his own terms. 

After severing his connection with the Illinois 
Central, he embarked in the grocery business at 
Independence. He operated this business for a 
time, and then sold it out. McDonell Bros, are 
doing business in the room at present. 

His next venture was working for A. J. Barn- 
hart of Independence, who was engaged in the 
creamery business and handled eggs. Mr. Barn- 
hart was a warm friend of Charlie Williams, and 
stood by him in all of his business enterprises, 
which favor Mr. Williams returned later on. 

After working for a time for Mr. Barnhart, 
he went to Ossian, a small town some distance 
north of Independence, bought a creamery and 
went into business on his own account. After 
getting the business under way, he conceived the 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 7 

idea of furnishing butter to private families in the 
larger cities. Pursuant to this idea, he put up a 
sample package of butter on which was printed his 
advertisement, went to Chicago and canvassed the 
city, leaving the sample of butter and an egg at 
private residences, at the same time informing 
the good housewife that he would call next day to 
take her order. This proved to be a gratifying 
success. He was enabled to obtain forty-rive cents 
per pound for his butter, and the demand so far 
exceeded the supply that he was obliged to send to 
Decorah for butter to supply his customers. 

While conducting this business he was im- 
pressed with the idea that he might be able to 
make something by handling hogs, there being an 
abundance of butter-milk, as a result of the butter 
making. In accord with this idea he built an im- 
mense hog house, filled it with hogs and was doing 
quite a profitable business. However, the intro- 
duction of the hog business was the beginning of 
trouble for Mr. Williams at Ossian. The people 
complained that the swine were not as sweet smell- 
ing as good fresh butter, and as a consequence the 
city council branded Mr. Williams' hog pen a 
nuisance, and he was compelled t@ discontinue the 
business. 

While living at Ossian, Mr. Williams became 
somewhat interested in the trotting horse. He 



8 C. W. WILLIAMS. 

was the possessor of a buckskin trotter, which he 
raced with the boys at county fairs, and if reports 
are true, the buckskin was oftener behind the 
money than otherwise. However this may be, the 
determination to own a trotter, and a good one, 
was strong in Mr. Williams. It was while attend- 
ing the fair at Independence with this same buck- 
skin trotter, that Mr. Williams bought Gussie 
Wilkes, the dam of the great and only Allerton. 

The Messrs. H. L. & F. D. Stout, of Dubuque, 
had a number of horses at Independence in charge 
of a Mr. Kelly. They were making arrangements 
to ship the stock home, and Mr. H.L. Stout went 
to Independence to look the stock over. The result 
of the inspection was the rejection of a number of 
horses and mares, with the instruction to Mr. 
Kelly to sell them for what they would bring. 
Among these offcasts was Gussie Wilkes. Mr. 
Williams' attention was called to the mare by a 
young man by the name of John Hussey, who Avas 
working for him at this time. After looking the 
mare over Mr. Williams asked Mr. Kelly the 
price. Mr. Kelly said seventy-five dollars. Mr. 
Williams without more ado said. "I will take her." 
Lou, the dam of Axtell, was bought sometime 
previous to this. For her Mr. Williams paid 
one hundred and twenty-five dollars. 

Here, without parade or show, were sold these 



C. IV. WILLIAMS. 9 

two offcast rnares. The Messrs. Stout did not 
consider them worth keeping for breeding pur- 
poses, although breeding and developing the trot- 
ter was their business. Little did Mr. H. L. 
Stout think when he instructed Mr. Kelly to sell 
these mares for what they would bring, that they 
were destined to become famous; their produce 
would astound the world and not only make their 
owner a millionaire, but make the then unimport- 
ant village of Independence the Mecca of America 
for the breeding and developing of the grandest 
of all horses — * ; The American Trotter." 

The spring following the purchase of Lou and 
Gussie Wilkes, Mr. Williams sent them in charge 
of John Hussey to Kentucky to be bred, selecting 
AVilliam L. to mate with Lou and Jay Bird for 
Gussie Wilkes. The mares were left in Kentucky 
until foaling time so that they could be bred a 
second time while there. On the 26th day of 
March, 1886, at Lexington, Kentucky, in Tom 
Montague's Omnibus barn on Short street, Lou 
foaled a brown horse colt. On the 31st day of 
March, 1886, at the same place, Gussie Wilkes 
also brought forth a brown horse colt. 

The mares and colts remained in Kentucky un- 
til about the first of July, when Mr. Hussey 
brought them home to Independence. 

The colts at this time were not above the av- 



10 C. IV. WILLIAMS. 

erage in point of good looks. In fact, the one 
afterwards named Axtell was a very ordinary look- 
ing bit of horse flesh. 

Mr. Williams' plan of naming the colts was, as 
they were the first colts foaled his property, to 
name them alphabetically, hence the names Aller- 
ton and Axtell. The foal of Gussie Wilkes, Aller- 
ton, and the foal of Lou, Axtell. 

The winter following the purchase of Lou and 
Gussie Wilkes, Mr. Williams sold out at Ossian, 
remarking at the time that if they did not want 
him at Ossian, he would not stay. He moved to 
Independence and embarked in the butter and egg 
business again, and about this time purchased the 
old fair grounds, containing forty acres, with 
the intention of using it for a breeding and train- 
ing farm. Onto this ground he moved the ob- 
noxious hog pen which had so sorely troubled the 
good citizens of Ossian. He pulled the hog pen 
to pieces, loaded it on the cars, shipped it to Inde- 
pendence and built a barn from the lumber. This 
barn is still on his premises, and is being used this 
season by Mr. John Hussey as a training stable. 

He continued in the butter and egg business 
right along, looking after his colts, but did not do 
anything toward developing them until the latter 
part of July after they were one year old. John 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 11 

Hussey broke the colts to harness and drove them 
a little through the fall and winter. 

As there have been so many stories afloat re- 
lating to the price that Mr. Williams ottered to 
take for Axtell, it, perhaps, will not be amiss to 
state that Mr. Williams did offer to sell him for 
three hundred dollars to a gentleman who was 
shipping a load of mares to Nebraska. This gen- 
tleman thought the price too high and offered two 
hundred and seventy-five dollars for him, which 
offer, as is well known, was refused. It was but 
a short time after, however, that it would have re- 
quired thousands to buy him. 

In the spring of 1888 when the colts were two 
years old, Mr. Williams commenced to drive Ax- 
tell in earnest, and John Hussey drove Allertom 
It was not long until they made the discovery that 
both of the colts could "trot some." Some time 
during the summer or fall of 1888, Mr. Williams 
sold his butter and egg business to Mr. H. E. 
Palmer, and devoted his whole time and attention 
to his horses. 

Axtell showed wonderful speed in his two-year 
old form, captured the two-year old record, and 
was the talk all over the country among horsemen. 
His record of 2:23 at two years was considered 
wonderful. Axtell was talked about and the time 
for him to trot as a three-year-old anxiouslv 



12 C. W. WILLIAMS. 

looked forward to by thousands of people. He 
had become so noted that Mr. Williams was able 
to make arrangements to give exhibition miles at 
race meetings and fairs. He came onto the turf 
in his three-year-old form and astounded all horse- 
dom. He awakened a new interest in the business. 
People became frantic as the great colt reduced 
his record time after time, finally gaining the 
stallion record of the world; the fastest record for 
any stallion either trotting or pacing, living or 
dead — 2:12. At the close of the season Mr. Wil- 
liams sold Axtell for one hundred and five thous- 
and dollars ($105,000) the highest price ever paid 
for a horse up to that time. 

After the sale of Axtell Mr. Williams was en- 
abled to embark in the horse business in a manner 
which undoubtedly exceeded his fondest expecta- 
tions. He decided immediately to build a mile 
track of the kite shaped variety, the plans having 
been produced by Clark's Horse Review. Mr. 
Williams owned at this time about two hundred 
and twenty acres of land, but it was not so well 
suited to his purpose as was a strip of land adjoin- 
ing his property, containing one hundred and 
twenty acres. For this Mr. Williams paid ($12,- 
000) twelve thousand dollars, and commenced at 
once to build his track. Thus in less than one 
month after selling his great colt Axtell, he is 



C. IV. WILLIAMS. 13 

busy at work constructing this new odd shaped 
track. 

It seemed that people were either envious of 
Mr. Williams' grand achievements thus far, or they 
possibly believed what they very freely expressed 
to the effect that Williams would part with his 
money as rapidly as he made it; foolishness for 
him to put so much money into a track, buildings. 
&c., so far from any of the large cities; horsemen 
would not attend a pumpkin show in the northwest- 
ern corner of Iowa. &c, &c. Mr. Williams had al- 
ready shown himself capable of attending to his 
legitimate business, and he continued to work at his 
track at intervals through the winter when the 
weather would admit. 

Early in the spring of 1890. he had a small 
army of men at work grading the track, building 
amphitheatre, barns and stalls, and an almost in- 
numerable number of things to be done before 
Rush park, as the new grounds had been named, 
would be in condition to receive the public. 

Mr. Williams had advertised his first meeting 
to take place in August, and on the first of January 
preceding had opened a series of trotting and 
pacing purses of the uniform value of $2,000 each, 
making a grand total of $4<\00<> in all to be con- 
tested for, the entrance fee to these purses being 
five per cent, just one-half charged by all other 



14 C. W. WILLIAMS. 

associations up to this time. It can be readily 
understood why the classes filled so handsomely; a 
splendid mile track, princely purses and only one- 
half the entrance fee charged at other places, it is 
not to be wondered at that horsemen took the 
chances and went. And above all Mr. Williams 
guaranteed every dollar, and his guarantee was 
good. 

The great meeting came on and with it thou- 
sands of people from all over the land to see Will- 
iams, his wonderful track, the great Allerton, in 
short, to behold the cream of the trotting and pacing 
world. The meeting was a success in every sense 
of the world. People came away pleased with 
the quantity and quality of the sport, praised the 
people of Independence for the royal manner in 
which they entertained, for be it remembered In- 
dependence is but a little city of four thousand in- 
habitants, and when twelve or fifteen thousand 
visitors sought shelter and food it was necessary 
that almost every house should take its quota of 
boarders and lodgers, which they did in a manner 
entirely to the satisfaction of the visitors. 

Horsemen were enthusiastic over the great kite 

shaped track; said it was the fastest track in the 

world; their horses could work on it, and not get 

sore, and altogether Independence beat them all. 

The next meeting was in the latter part of Oc- 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 15 

tober. This was intended principally for a record 
meeting, and the parses were of the uniform value 
of |300. This meeting was a surprise to many. 
There were several hundred horses on the grounds, 
almost two hundred and fifty entered in the class 
races and hosts of them to obtain records. This 
meeting was also a success in every way. The 
writer was privileged to witness the grandest per- 
formance by a team at this meeting, that it has 
been the lot of an}' man to witness. I refer to the 
mile trotted by Justina and Belle Hamlin, owned 
and driven b}< C. J. Hamlin, of Buffalo, New York. 
a pleasant old gentleman, seventy years of age. 

The mares came on the track hitched to a speed- 
ing wagon and were driven a mile the wrong way 
of the track by Mr. Andrews, Mr. Hamlin's trainer. 
They were stopped near the judge's stand, and the 
starting judge announced that Justina and Belle 
Hamlin would start against 2:15, the world's 
record for a tftam made by them. Mr. Hamlin 
mounted the wagon, drove them around the loop 
and scored for the word. He nodded at the first 
attempt and away they flew. As they speeded 
down the long stretch driven by this white haired 
grandfather, it looked the easiest thing imaginable 
to drive a team of trotters. They reached the 
quarter in 32-J on to the half in 1:04£. As they 
rounded into the stretch the cold strong wind met 



16 C. W. WILLIAMS. 

them, and men said, u They will never do it," but 
on they came, never faltering and were at the 
three quarters in 1:39J, and the shout went up, 
^They'll do it! They'll do it!". But at the dis- 
tance Justina made a break, and from man}' a 
heart there came - k Oh! too bad! But see! She's 
caught! They'll make it yet!" and as they swept 
under the wire at a two minute gait the applause 
was almost deafening. Mr. Hamlin, after driving 
a short distance, turned and came to the judges 
stand, when the time was announced 2:13J, and 
there went up another great shout and loud cries 
of "Hamlin! Hamlin!" rent the air. In response 
Mr. Hamlin went up into the judge's stand, took 
oft' his hat. and made a bow. The starting judge, 
after announcing the time, made the following 
statement: — 

••Ladies and gentlemen, taking into consider- 
ation all of the facts in connection with the won- 
derful performance which you have just witnessed, 
it is by far the greatest event of the age, in con- 
nection with the trotting business. Mr. Hamlin 
bred and owns the sire, the dams and granddams 
of this pair of mares." At the conclusion of this 
meeting the curtain drops on the scene at Rush 
Park for the season of 1890. Let us see what 
has been accomplished. Two great meetings have 
been successfully engineered and besides being a 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 17 

decided success financially, the track has to its 
credit the following: Of the seventeen two-year 
olds that entered the 2:30 list in 1890. eight of 
them did it on this track, and finally, one eighth of 
all the horses entering the 2:30 list in 1890, got 
their records on Mr. Williams' great coarse. 

Is there not good reason for the claim that it 
is the fastest track on earth? It would not be un- 
reasonable to suppose that the flattering success 
which rewarded the proprietor of Rush Park in 
his first attempt as a race meeting manager should 
have inspired him with confidence to attempt still 
greater things. To be convinced that he did at- 
tempt and accomplish it, we have only to look 
over the reports for the season of 1891. He 
claimed dates for three meetings; one in July, one 
in August and one in October. 

The August meeting was intended to be the 
great meeting of the year, and such it proved to 
be; not only the great race meeting of the year, 
the greatest of the age. The immense sum of 
$90,000 was offered to pay the purses and specials. 
As' a special attraction for this meeting a purse of 
$5,000 was ottered for five-year-olds. The entries 
in this race consisted of four of the greatest race 
horses in the world, viz: Nancy Hanks, 2.14: Mar- 
garet S, 2:12J; Navidad, 2:22£ (did not start): and 
Allerton, 2:13. This was a great drawing card 



18 C. IV. WILLIAMS. 

for the meeting, people making the journey of 
thousands of miles to witness the battle of the 
giants. This proved to be the greatest race ever 
witnessed, as thousands upon thousands will bear 
testimony. 

To give some idea of C. W. Williams' untir- 
ing energy and unlimited resource, the following 
taken from the American Trotter, dated Aug. 13, 
1891. tells the story: "It has been suggested 
that in case of rain, the sport of the August races 
will be marred to a great degree, but we will say 
that preparations have been made that will defy 
the elements, unless it rains continuously. Within 
three hours after any ordinary storm the track will 
be n't for racing, and the following is the modus 
operandi that will bring it into shape: A large 
number of sponges that will hold nearly a pail full 
of water each have been secured, and immediately 
after a rain, boys will go over the track with 
these sponges and take up all the water that is 
collected in pools. After this a large flock of 
sheep that is owned on an adjacent farm will be 
turned on the track and driven around several 
times: the horses and colts will be turned on from 
the pasture and also driven around, after which 
light harrows will be put to work and jogging on 
the track will begin. Within three hours the 
track will be fit for racing. Those living in ad- 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 19 

joining cities will please bear in mind that a storm 
in the morning does not mean a postponement of 
the races. The big meeting is bound to be a suc- 
cess, rain or shine/' 

It was not necessary to use the sponges and 
the sheep, as the weather was all that could be de- 
sired. Who now can say that Williams' success 
is luck! Is it not ratherthe unparalleled business 
ability which he possesses? 

The October meeting coming so late in the sea- 
son it was hardly to be expected that it would be 
anything out of the ordinary. But, strange as it 
may seem, horses and horsemen flocked thither by 
the hundreds, and Independence was again taxed 
to the utmost. But she was equal to the occasion 
and entertained her guests in the usual cordial 
manner. There were thirty-six class races, with 
purses of $200 in each and every race. There 
were a large number of entries in all of the classes. 
The meeting was a grand success and again Bush 
Park settles down to every day life. 

On Feb. 8th, 1892, Mr. AVilliams sold at 
Woodward and Shanklin's sale at Lexington, Ky., 
a number of horses, among them Barnhart, a full 
brother to Allerton, andDrextell, a full brother to 
Axtell. These horses did not sell for as high 
prices as was expected; at the same time >< 1 -^» . » ' < >( ' 



20 C. W. WILLIAMS. 

for a five-year-old stallion and $7,500 for a wean- 
ling would be considered a handsome price by 
most men. But, as compared with their aristo- 
cratic relatives, they were certainly very cheap. 
Men will tell you that it is all in the blood. If 
they are bred to trot, they must trot and they 
would just as soon breed to an undeveloped sire as 
to his developed brother. Here is an instance: 
Allerton vs. Barnhart; Axtell vs. Drextell. Both 
Allerton and Axtell command a service fee of 
$1,000. If the full brothers are just as good to 
breed from, they were almost given away. With 
the opening of the new year, we find Mr. Williams 
with untiring zeal pushing forward and making 
arrangements for the coming season. He has ad- 
vertised another great meeting to be held in 
August. 1892. Two full weeks, commencing Aug. 
22nd, and closing September 3d; $200,000 in 
stakes, specials and purses, a number of them of 
the value of $10,000, the entrance fee ranging 
from one to five per cent. Mr. Williams says 
that "the earning capacity of the trotter must be 
increased." He says that "we are producing ten 
high bred colts now to one five years ago/* Mr. 
Williams is surely doing his part towards increas- 
ing the earning capacity of the trotter, if a light en- 
trance fee is of any benefit in that direction. He 
has shown to the public his ability to manage race 



C. W. WILLIAMS. 



21 



meetings, and to do it in a manner calculated to 
inspire respect and confidence. We therefore con- 
fidently expect to witness the greatest meeting of 
all in 1892. 




22 INDEPENDENCE AND RUSH PARK. 



CHAPTER II. 

INDEPENDENCE AND RUSH PARK. 

Independence, Iowa, is the county seat of Bu- 
chanan county, and is located forty miles north- 
west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is a beautiful lit- 
tle city of about four thousand inhabitants, sur- 
rounded by a splendid farming and stock growing- 
country. The town is of more importance than a 
great many places that boast of a larger popula- 
tion. The Wapsie River flows through the town, 
dividing it almost in the center, furnishing excel- 
lent water power, which is utilized for milling pur- 
poses, and might be turned to account in various 
ways, such as manufacturing, etc. 

Another thing that gives Independence an ad- 
vantage in a business way, is the location here of 
the largest of the state hospitals for the insane. 
a structure erected a few years since at a cost of 
over one million dollars, and having a capacity of 
about nine hundred inmates. 

But the one thing which has made Independ- 
ence famous was the founding and operating of 



INDEPENDENCE AND RUSH PARK. 23 

Rush Park, which is located one-half mile from the 
business part of the town, on the west side of the 
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad- 
The farm contains three hundred and forty acres 
of land, all utilized in pastures and paddocks, ex- 
cept the part on which the track is built. Ten 
large barns on the place afford, with the stalls at 
the track, accommodation for four hundred horses 
with a box stall for every animal. The barns are 
lighted with electricity, and a system of water 
works furnishes water in the barns and on the ra- 
cing grounds. 

Near the larger barns and on an elevation 
commanding a tine view of the track, is Mr. Wil- 
liams* residence, erected at a cost of fifteen thous- 
and dollars. It contains all of the modern con- 
veniences, is elegantly furnished, and also lighted 
with electricity. 

Near the kite shaped track is a good half mile 
track, which Mr. Williams contemplates covering 
and heating with steam, to be used for training 
purposes through the winter. 

It is also his intention to put in an electric 
railway which will connect the two depots (the 
Illinois Central and the Burlington. Cedar Rapids 
and Northern), running through the business part 



24 INDEPENDENCE AND RUSH PARK. 

of the city, thence to Rush Park, and on to the 
Asylum which is beyond. 

When these improvements are completed, In- 
dependence will have the best facilities for training 
the year through of any city on the continent, and 
as they already have the "fastest mile track on 
earth" may they not reasonably expect that Inde 
pendence will become the very center of the trot- 
ting world. 




AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 25 



CHAPTER III. 

AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

In his two-year-old form, Axtell made his first 
appearance on the turf at Keokuk, Iowa. August 
9th, 1888. In the race for three-year-olds, mark 
you, for three-year-olds, he won the race in the 
second and third heats, last heat in 2:31 J, dis- 
tancing the field. There is one thing that it would 
be well for the reader to note. Williams has been 
called "lucky." Take particular notice of all his 
dealings in the two years immediately following 
this date, and then draw your own conclusions. 
There is not much doubt but that it was a surprise 
to the other starters in this race, to not only be 
beaten by a horse a year younger than theirs, but 
to be distanced, and by this colt from the north- 
ern part of the state, was pretty rough. But facts 
are stubborn things; Axtell reached the wire before 
they could get by that hated piece of red bunting, 
and there was nothing to do but stand it, and own 
that this northerner was a £ood one. On August 



26 AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

11th, 1888, Axtell started at Keokuk, against his 
own record, 2:31 J, but failed to equal it; he trotted 
in 2:32i. 

His next start was at Chicago, at the North- 
western Breeders' Meeting, August 25th. As a 
matter of course his Keokuk performance was 
fresh in the minds of the people, bu tthe question 
is, is he a trotter that will train on and trot on, or 
was this an accidental flight of speed that he might 
never be able to accomplish again. An answer to 
this question, Williams and Axtell were not long 
in giving. At Washington Park, Chicago, Aug. 
ust 25th, 1888, Axtell started against his record. 
2:31J, and trotted the mile in 2:3(>i Mr. Wil- 
liams was not satisfied with this, and after about 
forty minutes between heats, he sent him another 
mile, which he finished in grand style in the phe- 
nomenal time of 2:24|. This performance fell 
like a thunderbolt upon breeders and horsemen in 
general. It was at this time that men began to 
ask who this man Williams was. Where did this 
colt come from? I believe there is some fraud 
about this thing, etc., etc. Such expressions as 
the above were freely indulged in. Such talk as, 
that Williams was favored by the judges in the 
matter of time, was currently reported, anything 
but to believe that Axtell was a truly great horse. 
And why was this? Simply because he had not 



AX TELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 27 

emanated from some wealthy breeding establish- 
ment, because his dam was not a $5,000 pur- 
chase with all of the incrosses and outcrosses and 
breeding or business attached, with a tabulated ped- 
igree that dated back to the thoroughbred stallion 
that tore loose from Pharaoh's chariot when he 
was crossing the Red Sea in pursuit of the fleeing 
children of Israel. In short, Axteli's breeding was 
not considered fashionable. Well, we will see 
what a man and a horse can do toward making 
these things come their way. It may not be 
generally known that there was some exceptions 
taken to Axteli's mile at Chicago in 2:24f. The 
facts are as follows: After he had finished the first 
mile in 2:30J, Mr. Willams made known to the 
judges that he would drive Axtell another mile, 
and accordingly when the prescribed time arrived* 
Mr. Williams was on the track with Axtell read}' 
to go, but was informed by one of the judges 
that he must wait until Madam Some-body-or other 
got through with a saddle horse exhibition. Con- 
sequently he was compelled to wait some fifteen min- 
utes, making in all a wait of about forty minutes 
between heats. This would not have made any 
difference had Axtell trotted in about the same 
time as the former heat, but when it came to flash- 
ing under the wire in 2:24J, therein' rapturing 
the two-year-old record, it was a little too much. 



-?8 AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

and the judges concluded that they did not know 
whether this could be legally called a record. No 
fault of Mr Williams that he did not get away on 
time. Yet they talk about the validity of the 
record. However, it mattered but little, as sub- 
sequent events will show. This is simply thrown 
in to show what kind of help Mr. Williams was get- 
ting from judges to push himself and his now 
famous horse to the top. Axtell's next start was 
at Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 30th, 1888, 
special purse $500, against time 2:26-|. Axtell 
won in 2:24. Still a little better. It makes but 
little difference now what the decision of the 
judges at Chicago was. The plucky Hawkeye 
colt can now boast of a record f of a second faster 
than the one made there, and it looks as though 
he might still lower it; he is in good condition, 
and when he makes his fastest miles, it is without 
any great exertion. It seems to be natural to the colt 
to trot, and when he gets at it right, it is appar- 
ently but little trouble. From Minneapolis, Ax- 
tell is shipped to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the 
Iowa State Fair and take a part in the races. He 
is entered in the race for three-year-olds, purse 
% 580. He won it in the first, third and fourth heats, 
■dropping the second heat, time 2:43, 2:34:, 2:35f, 
2:38. This was an easy victoiy, the time made 
not being so fast as the first race that he started in. 



AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 29- 

From Des Moines, he goes home to Independ- 
ence to take a little rest, and attend a meeting at 
the county fair. Here he is given a purse of 
$100, providing he beats 2:31 J, this being his 
record on a half mile track. The Horseman, dated 
September 20th, 1888, says; . *'At the county fair 
at Independence, Iowa, on September 14, the two 
year old colt Axtell, 2:24, owned by C. W. Wil- 
liams, of Independence, was driven a mile for a 
special purse to beat his best record on a half mile 
track 2:3iJ. When he was brought on the 
track it was raining, but he finished the mile in 
2:30, without a skip, trotting the home stretch in 
the face of the blinding rain and strong wind. A 
running horse started to accompany him, but after 
the first quarter fell far behind. The half mile 
track there is slow, and twenty -five feet over 
length." On September 19th, 1888, Axtell and 
his breeder, owner, trainer and driver, C. W. Wil- 
liams, are at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, attending the 
Iowa Breeders' Meeting. The event is ably re- 
lated by a correspondent to the Horseman, from 
Burlington, Iowa, dated October 11th, 1888. as 
follows: 

"Preparatory to lowering his record of 2:30 on 
a half mile track, Mr. Williams appeared with his 

pride, Axtell, the king of two-year old colts, and 
he made his first attempt, trotting a mile in 2:30f v 



30 AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

with two breaks. He was accompanied by Alpha, a 
black mare, owned by H. L. and F. D. Stout, of 
Dubuque. Iowa, and driven by Mr. Kelly. Mr. 
Williams, having three trials to accomplish the 
difficult task, appeared later for the second attempt 
amid applause from the great crowd congregated 
to witness the performance. After scoring twice 
he got away, trotting the quarter in 38 seconds, 
the half in l:13f, three-quarters in 1:53 and the 
mile in 2:27J, which was pronounced the greatest 
performance ever made on a half mile track, by 
old and experienced judges who witnessed the 
performance. He did not appear disturbed in the 
least while trotting the last quarter at a 2:21 gait. 
Axtell is undoubtedly the most perfect trotter 
that has ever appeared on the turf. The total 
weight of his four shoes is twelve ounces, four 
ounces in each of the front, and two ounces in 
each of the hind shoes, wearing nothing but scalp- 
ing boots, and they are used merely as a precau- 
tion. The above performance was regarded 
equivalent to 2:20 on a good mile track, by pro- 
fessional horsemen, as the track was slow. 

After his victoiy over time at Cedar Rapids, 
the next mention we see of the young monarch is 
at St. Louis, Mo. If he made an effort against 
any particular record here, I have not been able to 
find it. either in Wallace's Year Book, or in the 



AX TELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 31 

files of The Horseman. The following appeared 
in the last named, in the issue elated October 4th, 
1888. 

The writer, after making mention of a number 
of horses, speaks of Axtell as follows: "Axtell 
looks brighter, and altogether he appears to be in 
better fettle than when at Washington Park. 
Whether he will be sent a fast mile at the fair I 
do not know; I presume not, though if the day 
be favorable, and the track in good shape, he may 
reduce his record. The track at present is any- 
thing but fast, being very soft and euppy in many 
places, and it needs working badly, but for all 
that Axtell went a very easy mile yesterday in 
2:27-J, which is as fast as any of the horses could 
make it, free-for-all contestants included." 

The next and last place that Axtell is exhib- 
ited as a two-year-old is at Lexington, Kentucky, 
the far famed Blue Grass State. Kentucky, has 
been noted for time almost immemorial as the home 
of fine horses. It seems strange that she should 
appeal to the comparatively new state of Iowa for 
an attraction to draw the masses to her great race 
meeting. But such is the case. Did I say that 
it was strange? Truly it seems so, but the old 
adage "True merit always wins," is only being 
verified again as it has been thousands of times. 
We know that this was rather a hard blow on our 



32 AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

Kentucky brethren, this landing Iowa a winner 
in the horse business in a single heat. But we 
must acknowledge that you have shown rare good 
judgment in adopting this phenomenal youngster, 
and thereby creating good feeling, and eventually 
reaping some of the benefit, which must necessar- 
ily follow. 

Lexington, Ky., October 8, 1888; prize, silver 
cup; Axtell against time, 2:26J. Axtell won; 
time 2:23. 

The Horseman, dated October 18, 1888, says; 
k 'Axtell went a second mile accompanied by a 
runner. He went to the half in 1:10, and finished 
in 2:23, true and strong. It was a grand perform- 
ance, unparalled except by the mile of Wildflower, 
and when it is considered that Axtell has been 
shipped all over the country, trotting on half mile 
tracks, and has never had the advantage of a day's 
training by a professional trainer, his mile is a 
marvel." 

Hold on, brother. Do you think in your hon- 
est heart, that there is another man that could have 
done better with Axtell, than C. W. Williams, of 
independence, Iowa? True he has had but little 
experience, but did it never occur to you that this 
man was a natural conditioner and driver? I will 
agree with you, there are hosts of men that know 
more about the chicanery of race driving, for of 



AXTELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 33 

this Mr. Williams, does not profess to know any- 
thing, in fact I do not know that he professes to 
know anything at all, but to use the vernacular of 
the old darkey, he just "goes and does it." Do 
not be deceived. If a man is not a natural driver, 
you may just as well undertake to give an im- 
ported Clyde a record of 30, as to try to make of 
him a successful trainer and driver. 

On November 1st, Axtell started again at 
Lexington against his own record of 2:23. but 
failed to equal it, trotting the mile in 2:28 \. 

This ends Axtell's public work as a two-year- 
old; he now retires into winter quarters with the 
two-year-old stallion record 2:23. He has been 
the wonder of the season, coming from obscurity* 
and at a single bound landing in the very front 
rank. Think of him at Keokuk, his very first at- 
tempt in company, starting with a field of three- 
year-olds, himself at that time under size, distanc- 
ing the party, and lacking but one and one-quarter 
seconds of getting into the Charmed Circle. 

Then again at Des Moines, starting against 
another field of three-year-olds, and winning at 
will. 

During the season he has trotted nine miles 
against the watch, the most stubborn of con- 
testants, winning six and Losing three, but he did 



34 AX TELL AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

not fail to win at every meeting when he was 
started. 

Won his race at Keokuk; lost the mile against 
time. At Chicago, first mile against time won; 
second, won. Won his race at Des Moines. At 
Independence won against time. Cedar Rapids 
first mile lost, second won. Minneapolis against 
time, won. Lexington, against time, first mile 
won; second, lo^t. 

It can be seen at a glance that while he lost 
three miles during the season, he was winner at 
all meetings when he was started, and now we will 
not see more of the great colt until summer comes 
again. There is not much doubt but that he will 
make some very fast miles around the warm 
stoves in club rooms and in livery barn offices, and 
such like places, but we doubt very much whether 
the most sanguine will be prepared for his wonder- 
ful performance as a three-year-old. We will now 
leave him snugly ensconced in his cozy winter 
quarters at Independence until the racing season 
comes again. 



AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 35 



CHAPTER IV; 

AXTELL IN HIS THREE- YEAR- OLD FORM. 

The first that we see of Axtell in 1889, is at 
Cedar Rapids, la. , June 27th, at the summer meet- 
ing of the Cedar Rapids Trotting Asociation, where 
he is to trot against time, 2:26J; purse, $500. The 
following taken from the Horseman, dated July 4, 
1889. will give some idea of the esteem in which Ax- 
tell was held. ''The card of the day was the won- 
derful three-year-old colt, Axtell, to beat the 
three-} r ear-old record over a half mile track. When 
Mr. Williams and Axtell made their appearance, 
they were greeted with a hearty cheer. After a 
little warming up, the Wonder scored for the word, 
and as it was given, a hundred watches were 
started. He reached the quarter in 35 seconds, on 
he flew to the half in 1:08^, and he finished the 
mile easy in 2:21f. As he jogged back to the 
stand, the immense crowd arose in a body and 
gave three cheers for Axtell and Charlie 
Williams. 

It is universally conceded by horsemen that 
Axtell could have beaten 2:20, had his owner so 



30 A XT ELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

desired. I predict that Axtell will be the sensa- 
tional horse of the year, and I fully believe he can 
beat the three-year-old record. He was driven to 
a forty-five pound Frazier sulky, it being the first 
time that he was ever hitched to it." A wonder- 
ful performance, it being so early in the season, 
also taking into consideration the fact that Axtell 
was a stallion, and was taken from the harem and 
started in a race. His next start is at Minneapo- 
lis. Minnesota, July 2nd, special purse against time. 
2:18. Two eighteen! Think of it. Only a baby, 
his first mile of the season in 2:21f, and with only 
five days intermission, asked to go a mile better 
than 2:18. Can he do it? Williams must be 
crazy! He will kill the colt! and such like ex- 
pressions were freely indulged in at the time, and, 
by the way, bear with me and I wilj relate a little 
incident that took place at the time that Axtell 
trotted in 2:21f at Cedar Rapids. I was at that 
time living at Mediapolis, Iowa, and had made ar- 
rangements with Mr. C. P. Johnson, better known 
as "Tip,' 1 to attend the Cedar Rapids meeting and 
see Axtell trot. When the morning of the race 
came, it was impossible for me to go, but as no 
such bad luck attended "Tip," he went. I might 
state here that Mr, Johnson is a horseman, his 
father having owned and campaigned runners, but 
4i Tip," in keeping with the times, was becoming in- 



AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 37 

tensely interested in the trotter, so that he was on 
the lookout for any stray bit of information that 
might be picked up, consequently when he went 
to see Williams and Axtell, his eyes were open. 
A few days after the meeting I met him, and he 
gave me an account of the wonderful mile trotted 
by Axtell. But. said he, **the strangest thing to 
me is the way Williams feeds. Why, Axtell was 
to trot at half past one, and I was at his stall at 
eleven, and he was eating timothy hay like a plow 
horse, but he came out and trotted a mile in 2:21f , 
and did it eas}^. Well, I thought I would go 
round and see how he cools out. I don't think that 
I ever saw a horse cool out nicer, but Williams sur- 
prised me again; just when he was nicely cooled, 
and I thought ready for a bran mash, or a little 
hay. his groom came in with all the green grass 
he could cany, and threw it down to the colt; 
that settled me." Well Wi Tip. v said I, what do 
you think of that kind of treatment? "What do I 
think of it? Gad! What must I think? See how 
how he trots?" Here can be seen the beginning 
of G. W. Williams' influence on the feeding and 
manner of caring for the trotter. How many 
trainers were there up to this time that advocated 
heavy feeding, especially hay? How many were 
there that thought green grass good for a cam- 
paigner? The answer is easy, very few. Young 



38 AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

men can very well remember the time when it was 
thought if a horse by some mischance filled himself 
with grass, he would not be fit to go into a race 
for from one to two weeks after. 

The successful trainer of to-day has very dif- 
ferent ideas; he favors plenty of good wholesome 
food, and a little grass every day. When did men 
commence feeding this way? Did you ever think 
of it? But to return to our hero, let us see what 
the outcome is at Minneapolis. Again we will give 
the account as taken from the Horseman of July 
11, 1888. 

••Axtell's performance to-day was something 
wonderful. It was a raw, cold day, the wind blow- 
ing against him through the stretch. His mile in 
2:15^, stamps him the greatest colt ever foaled. 
In the pool rooms last night, Axtell sold for $15; 
time, $10. At the track to-day nobody wanted 
Axtell. Taking the conditions, the day, &c, into 
consideration, the odds were ten to one that Time 
would win. After scoring once he was started 
for the task, and as the starter gave him the word a 
hundred watches were started. He flew to the 
quarter in 33 seconds, and on to the half in 1:06. a 
shout went up as the time was called. He went to 
the three-quarters in 1:40, and as he straightened 
into the stretch, he was seen to waver. Wililams 



AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 39 

commenced to lift him, and tapped him lightly with 
the whip, when he let out a link and passed under 
the wire a winner in the unprecedented time of 
2:15^, not only beating the three -year-old record, 
but beating Manzanita's four-year-old record of 
2:16. When the colt and driver returned to the 
stand, they were greeted with a hearty round of 
applause. After the trial I asked some of the 
prominent horsemen to give their opinion on the 
day. John Splan said, had the day been good, he 
Avould have beaten the stallion record. Knap 
McCarthy thought the day two and one-half seconds 
slow; Ben AValker. three seconds; C. W. Kinney, 
one and one-half; C. Cattrill, one:R<)dv Patterson, 
one; M. E. McHenry, two; Bob Stuart, two and 
one-half; H. D. McKinney. two; Lee Pendal, two; 
George AA T ilde, two; Al. Swearinger, two. H. 
D. McKinney offered Mr. Williams $50,000 for 
Axtell. Mr. AVilliams replied that it would take 
$100,000 to buy him. AVhen you take into con- 
sideration this colt has only had three miles better 
than 2:40, this spring, his performance of to-day 
leads me to think he will trot a mile close to 2:10 
this season. A. H. Simons, the popular secretary 
of the St. Paul Association, ever ready to secure 
the best, made arrangements with Air. AVilliams 
to trot for a special purse of $2,000, at St. Paul, 
next week. 



40 AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

Well, the timothy hay and green grass did not 
kill him, neither did his fast mile at Cedar Rapids 
impair his speed, but rather seems to have brought 
him to an edge, and he still lives and is making 
more engagements; the wise ones are shaking their 
heads and saying, he can never do it again. All 
things to him who waits. Wait, brother, and we 
will see. 

The next place selected to battle against time 
is Independence. Home, how Mr. Williams' heart 
must have throbbed within him, as the thought 
came to him that he would exhibit his treasure to 
those he knew best! Reader, did you ever raise a 
<?olt, train it to halter and to harness, care for, 
feed and groom it, until it came to be a full grown 
horse? If you have, then you know something 
of the feelings of C. W. Williams on that fourth 
of July, when he came out behind the wonderful 
colt, and knew that he was among friends who 
were taking almost the same interest as himself. 
Mr. Williams did achieve greater things after- 
ward, but, in the estimation of the writer, this was 
the proudest, most glorious day of his career. 
The feat to be performed at this time, was to beat 
the three-year-old record, 2:21f, over a half-mile 
track; purse, $500. He trotted the mile in 2:20^, 
and did it easily. Now we are beginning to think 
that Mr. Williams should be satisfied; he has 



AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 41 

gained enough laurels for one season. With a 
record over a mile track of 2:15^, and 2:20-| 
over a half mile track, what more does he crave? 
Ah! there is a certain world's stallions record not 
very far below 2:15^ that Mr. Williams is begin- 
ning to view with some concern. As anticipated, 
in the account of the Minneapolis meeting, on 
July 11th, we find our champion colt trotter and 
his irrepressible owner and driver at St. Paul, 
Minnesota. Sa}~! did it ever occur to you that 
Axtell Avas a great traveler? I can hear scores of 
voices answer, he certainly must be, to be able to 
trot a mile in 2:15^. Oh, certainly, but that is not 
what I meant. I refer to him as a railroad trav- 
eler. In the last fourteen days, he has been 
shipped about seven hundred miles, and has 
trotted three fast miles. This is quite 
a jaunt, and we would not feel surprised if our 
baby trotter would become discouraged. But not 
one bit of it; he goes out at St. Paul, and trots in 
2:15-J, just the same as the mile at Minneapolis. 
But good judges, not the official judges, said that 
Axtell trotted the mile fair in 2:15^. However, 
judges in a horse race are all powerful, and this 
case was not an exception to the rule. Although 
it would seem, that, taking into consideration the 
rivalry which exists between Minneapolis and St. 
Paul, that the latter place would gladly have con- 



42 AXTELL IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. CD 

ceded the one-fourth part of a second, and had it 
said that Axtell trotted the fastest over their track. 
But so it is. and the record must show2:15i. 




AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 



CHAPTER V. 

AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 

After a rest of twenty clays, on August 1st, 
we meet an Iowa wonder in the Buckeye state, at 
Cleveland, Ohio, at that time the very center of 
horsedom, so far as race meetings were concerned. 
This is the same city and the same track where 
the immortal Maud S. set the mark of 2:08f, 
w 7 hich remained untouched for so many years. 
Judging from the make up of men in general, 
don't you think Mr. Williams would feel a little 
shaky here, with the eyes of the whole horse world 
upon him? He is going to undertake to drive his 
three-year-old colt a mile better than 2:15-J-, a feat 
which has never been accomplished, and which in 
the minds of a great many people is an utter im- 
possibility, all things considered. It would seem 
that an amount of confidence, and cool determin- 
ation, beyond the ability of man to command, 
would be necessaiy at this time to pilot the great 
colt through this mile. For be it remembered. 
Axtell is but three years old. Mr. Williams is 
but an amateur driver. He was not known to the 



44 AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 

horse world until Axtell commenced as a two- 
year-old to show speed. The eyes of hundreds of 
men who had made training the trotter their life 
business were upon him. His methods were pe- 
culiarly his own, and were radically different from 
theirs, and it is not strange that they should think 
that Mr. Williams' career would be short. There 
is not much doubt but that some of these same 
drivers felt that in a measure this new man was 
infringing on their territory, as it were, and mak- 
ing known to the world that any man with good 
judgment and determination could train and drive 
a trotter. All this Mr. Williams possessed, and 
he turned it to good account. The Horseman, 
dated August 8th, describes the Cleveland mile as 
follows: 

"Axtell's great mile in 2:14f excited the admir- 
ation of critical horsemen. Doubts were freely ex- 
pressed as to his ability to equal his record of 
2:154/. It was a wonderful rating mile. The 
first quarter being accomplished in 33^ seconds, 
and each of the others in 33f seconds, or as near 
an even mile as possible. So much has been writ- 
ten of him. that I will say little here, except to de- 
scribe the mile. He trotted it without a skip, or 
a break, and I think could have gone a little faster. 
Any doubts as to his greatness, which existed, are 
now dispelled. He is simply a phenomenon, pure 



AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 45 

gaitecl, level headed, and even tempered, in fact, 
a perfect trotter." Ah! he did not disappoint the 
great crowd of people assembled to see him, and 
best of all, he did not disappoint his fond and con- 
fident owner. He has again proven himself to be 
the greatest horse on earth. He has set a new 
mark for three-year-olds, and indeed it begins 
to look as though he would set a mark for all 
horses. August 21st, Ave find Axtell at Chicago. 
Well, it will be strange if some of those Chicago 
sharks don't steal Axtell's speed away from him, 
or, still worse, steal the horse outright, and try to 
make Mr. Williams believe they have bought him. 
They are a bad set, young man. Beware! Wal- 
lace's year book says: Special purse % — ; against 
time, 2:131; Axtell (3 years) B. H., by William 
L., time, 2: 15 \\ lost. While the Horseman of 
August 22, 1889, has it Axtell against 2:Uf ; 
time, 1. Axtell, b. c, C. W. Williams, 2; time, 
2:151. 

It matters but little which is correct, so long 
as the outcome is the same. Here is an oppor- 
tunity to ring in the old thread bare ; 'I told you 
so." I knew those Chicago sharpers would steal 
something, and they have done it. But wait a day 
or two, and we will do business with an honest man: 
Honest Jim Graham, as he is called, of Biggs- 
ville, 111. His good horse. Earl McGregor, by 



46 AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 

Robert McGregor, and Axtell, take a tilt at it. 
Mr. Graham, you had a good horse, but he was 
raised on the wrong side of the river. To have a 
winner this year, he must be an Iowa horse. 

Purse $ — ; for stallions: 

Axtell (3 years) b. h., by William L., 1-1-1. 

Earl McGregor, by Robert McGregor. 2-2-2. 
Time: 2:19, 2:14, 2:20f. 

Where are those fellows that have been shout- 
ing all summer about trials against time? Such 
expressions as, he is not a race horse! He never 
trots in a race! I believe he is a quitter, &c, &c, 
&c. Come, now, boys, own up! It will do you 
good. See those three heats; average time, 2:17H, 
a shade better than 2:18, and more. Axtell has 
again set a mark for three-year-olds, 2:14, and done 
it in a race. Bravo! You need not be ashamed of 
your horse, Mr. Graham. It was no disgrace to 
be beaten in such time, and as we cannot all own 
record breakers, let us rejoice with Mr. Williams 
and the trotting horse world in general. In just 
five days after this wonderful performance, Aug. 
28th, Axtell is started at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 
against time, 2:27, for a purse of $1,000, winning 
in 2:23; just a nice work out for him. The next 
day, August 29th, he is started at Independence 
against 2:23, for a purse of $500, and won in 



AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHLO. 47 

2:22. Another nice work out. An easy way to 
make $1,500, and not harden the horse, either. 
Ah! But if 2:22 was as fast as he could trot, do 
you think he could command these prices, and 
dictate his own terms? No. Axtell is now a horse 
with a great reputation, but he has earned it, hewn 
it out, and he is already beginning to reap some of 
the benefit. Axtell's last performance being at 
Independence, at home, he is given a rest, his 
next public performance being at St. Louis, Mo., 
October 4, 1889. However, during this time he 
is taken to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the State 
Fair, but as he was suffering from a severe attack 
of influenza, Mr. Williams did not start him 
against any particular time, but simply drove 
him an exhibition mile in slow time. He was 
shown here in a glass house, or rather a stall built 
expressly for the occasion, with windows on all 
sides, so that he could be viewed by the thousands 
of people who made the journey to Des Moines 
on purpose to see the great three-year-old stallion 
and race horse. About this time excitement was 
running high; a great many people thought that 
Mr. Williams was very foolish to refuse the hand- 
some oilers that had been made him for the horse. 
Others thought that Axtell had trotted his fastest 
mile, and that he was a broken down colt. But 
all this talk had no effect on Mr. Williams. He 



48 AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 

had priced Axtell at $100,000, and it was begin- 
ning to look as though he meant it, and just here 
let us take a look at C. W. Williams as a business 
man. Time and again, all of his marvelous suc- 
cess has been attributed to luck. What folly! 
Granted that the production of Axtell was to a 
certain degree good fortune, how many men were 
there in the United States that would not have 
sold Axtell when 150,000 was offered for him? 
How many that would not have sold him for forty 
thousand? Yes, for twenty. Ay, for 110,000. 
How are we to account for the fact that Mr. Will- 
iams did not sell him for any of these prices? 
There is but one answer. He is a thorough busi- 
ness man. He had set his mark high on this 
horse, and he was compelling everything to bend 
to his iron will, pending the accomplishment of his 
purpose. Axtell made his next start at St. Louis, 
Mo.. October 4th, 1889. The Horseman has it: 

Exhibition mile trotting. 

Axtell. b. s., by William L. C. W. Williams, 1. 
Time: 2:19. 

So he has not lost all of his speed. True, it 
is not so good as his record of 2:14. But, remem- 
ber the hardship this colt has endured. Since the 
twenty-seventh of June, he has been shipped sev- 
eral thousand miles, and has trotted no less than 



AXTELL AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. 49 

eleven fast miles. The average time being 2:18 A 
for the eleven miles, and a number of these he 
could have trotted several seconds faster> enough 
faster to have brought the average close to 2:17, 
had there been any occasion for it. As stated 
above, the time had come with Axtell, when he, 
or rather Mr. Williams, could make his own terms. 
He is a great drawing card at race meetings, and 
the management can well afford to give him a lib- 
eral purse to get him on the grounds, no matter 
whether he trotted to beat 2:23 or 2:14. and you 
are not likely to find this man Williams driving to 
beat any fast mark, unless there is something in it, 
as we will soon see. 




50 AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 



CHAPTER VI. 

AXTELL AT TERRE HAUTE. INDIANA, MAKING HIS 
RECORD OF 2:12. 

And now we have followed Iowa's pride for 
three months through changing scenes, have re- 
joiced when he was victorious, and been sympa- 
thetic when defeat attended him, which was sel- 
dom, then come with him to the spot where his 
name is made glorious, where it is to be graven 
upon the mind of the horse world in such brilliant 
letters that it will never be forgotten. We will 
let the Horseman tell the story: 

"Terre Haute, Ind., Oct. 9, 1889. The ap- 
pearance of Axtell was the signal for applause, 
and right royally did the enthusiastic spectators 
tender the famous three-year-old an ovation as he 
moved by the stand. He was started to go a fast 
mile, and was accompanied by Budd Doble's run- 
ner. Father John, with George Starr in the sulky. 
A mile in about 2:16 was all that was looked for, 
but as the first three quarters were checked off in 
33 seconds, 33f seconds and 3 2f seconds, it looked 



AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 51 

as if Sunol's record was in danger. The last quar- 
ter, however, was not up to expectations, as it was 
finished in 34f seconds. It could have been 
trotted faster, as Williams did not force the young- 
ster out as he did at Washington Park and 
Cleveland. Under any conditions a mile in 2: 14-J 
is a w T onderful performance, and still more com- 
mendable when credited to a three-year-old. In 
this case, however, it has a strange significance, as 
Axtell never had harness on him for four weeks 
previous to his 2:19 at St. Louis, last week. 
Axtell hasnow trotted three miles below 2:15, and 
has more than an even chance to recover the three- 
year-old record, and in all probability reduce the 
stallion record. 11 

Two days later Axtell makes the supreme ef- 
fort of his life, and wins. 

Terre Haute, Ind., October 11, 1889. Ax- 
tell's trip against the three-year-old record has 
proved the event of the week. It seemed impossi- 
ble for him to be sucessful with so little work as 
he has had. When Williams appeared for a warm- 
ing up mile, there w T as a buzz of excitement. A 
little later he came out for the trial, and was greeted 
with applause. The colt never looked so fit, bat 
no one expected to witness the greatest mile ever 
trotted by a stallion. He scored twice and nodded 



52 AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 

for the word. Mr. Ijams said go, and the great 
colt was off for the supreme effort of his life. 

Steady and true he went to the quarter in 33 
seconds; he was at the half in 1:05^, the three- 
quarters in 1:37J, and trotted home in exactly 
2:12. As he reached the half, a silence as of 
death came over that audience. Some old-time 
and experienced horseman quietly remarked: -It 
is too fast." On he flew to the three quarters, 
trotting straight and true as an arrow. Men 
looked at their watches, and the cry went up. ; *He 
will beat it, sure." Leaving the three-quarters he 
commenced to climb the hill. The suspense was 
painful. This was the crucial test, and it was gen- 
erally thought that here he would fail. On he 
came without even a change in his pure f rictionless 
stroke. Rounding the turn without faltering he 
started down the short stretch, each step bringing 
him nearer the championship. After having cov- 
ered half the distance. Williams eased him for a 
breath. The crowd, wild with excitement, yelled, 
"come on, come on, he will beat it, sure. 1 ' Re- 
sponding to Williams 1 call, Axtell sped towards 
the wire like an arrow from a bow, and swept un- 
der it in 2:12, winner of the grandest heat ever 
trotted by a stallion, living or dead. Before he 
reached the wire men knew he had eclipsed 
all stallion records, and shouts of joy rent the air. 



AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 53 

Williams drove a little way down the stretch, 
turned and came to the judge's stand, when the 
judges, timers and audience joined in one long, 
loud, exultant cry of victory, while hats went 
flying in the air. and ladies waved their handker- 
chiefs and joined in the tumultuous applause. 

After the excitement had died away. Mr- 
Ijams, in a voice trembling with emotion, said, 
' k Ladiesand gentlemen; the wonderfulcolt, Axtell, 
has trotted a mile over this track in 2:12, the 
grandest mile ever trotted, and I propose three 
cheers for Axtell, and three more for Williams." 
The delighted audience responded with a will, and, 
amidst the plaudits of the people, Axtell was pro- 
claimed king of stallions; king by inheritance of 
royal blood; king by virtue of his noble deeds. 

Axtell was accompanied by Father John, 
driven with rare judgment by Geo. btarr. He 
trotted the half iu 1:05^, and the middle half in 
l:04f. 

Colonel Conley, A. E. Brush and Secretary 
Steiner were the timers, and each watch registered 
exactly 2:12, while dozens of men outside made it 
2:llf. Doble, and other experts, expressed the 
opinion that had he two more weeks for train- 
ing, he could trot a much faster mile. By this effort 
Axtell beats the three-year-old record a second and 
three-quarters, beats the stallion record a second 



•54 AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 

and one-quarter, and at one stroke wipes out all 
stallion records, pacing or trotting. He is cer- 
tainly the wonder of the age. 

Terre Haute, Ind., Oct. 12, 1889. AxtelPs 
performance is still the topic of the day. and to it 
his sale for $105,000 has been added. Last eve- 
ning at a dinner given by C. W. Williams, the 
merits of the horse were discussed. W. P. I jams 
created a wave of applause by saying, "Mr. Wil- 
liams, I am anthorized to offer you $100,000 for 
Axtell." 

Williams quietly replied: "I cannot accept the 
offer.'' Mr Ijams then said: tk I will give you 
$5,000 for five colts from five of my best mares." 
Williams declined the proposition, but said the 
horse would be in service at a fee of $1,000, and 
for mares which failed to stand, he would return 
the money. 

The party then adjourned, and as Wiliamsleft 
the room, John Madden approached him and said: 
"I want to buy your colt, Axtell. and will give 
you $100,000 for him.*' 

"I have just refused that offer," was Williams' 
reply, and Madden followed it up by adding an- 
other thousand. 

At this, Colonel Conley stepped up and said : 
"Williams, I will give you more for Axtell than 
any one; I will give you $105,000." 



AXTELL A T TERRE HA UTE. 55 

Williams replied; "you can have him. r 
Colonel Conley, W. P. Ijams, F. T. Moran 
and A. E. Brush affixed their signatures to the 
proper document, a check was handed Mr. Wil- 
liams for a part of the amount, and the wonder of 
the year passed from the hands of his breeder, 
owner and trainer, into those of a syndicate. 
Atone o'clock Saturday, the colt was formally 
delivered to George Starr, and became a member 
of Buck! Doble's stable. 




(9 &w 



56 ALLERTON AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 



CHAPTER VII. 

ALLERTON AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 

Allerton made his first appearance on the turf 
tit Keokuk. Iowa, when he was two years old. He 
was started in a race at this place on the 8th day 
of August. 1888, purse $100, for two-year-olds. 
He was driven by John Hussey, and after losing 
two heats to a filly called Black Wing, he won the 
third, fourth and fifth heats; fastest time 2:50. 
The time in this race is not phenomenal, but it was 
good. One thing the colt showed was his ability 
to stay and trot. He did not attract especial at- 
tention at this time. He was good enough to win 
his race, and that was all that was asked of him. 

He was next started at Des Moines, Iowa, at 
the state fair September 3rd, 1888, purse $515, 
for two-year-olds. 

Here he is asked to trot a little faster, which 
he does, and wins in straight heats, time 2:49J, 
2:48-J. The young fellow starts out as though he 



ALLERTON AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 57 

meant to win every race in which he is started. 
He is a good colt, was bred to trot, and no horse 
has a better right to do so. 

His next appearance is at Independence, Iowa, 
Sept. 13, 1888, purse $110, for two-year-olds. He 
wins easily in S:03f, and 2:56. This is his third 
race, in fact, his third start, all in races, and he is 
winner in all of them. 

At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 19th. he 
made his first start against time, 2:48^, and won 
in 2:43f Thus far he came steadily down the 
scale, lowering his record whenever asked to do 
so. 

At Lexington. Kentucky. November 1st, the 
ambitious colt met his first defeat. Here he was 
started in a match against Glenview Belle, and was 
distanced in 2:31. The time was a little too fast, 
that was all. 

On the same day, at the same place, he was 
started against time. 2:40, and again lost by one- 
quarter of a second. He trotted the mile in 2:40^. 
Although he did not win in his last attempt, he 
placed 2:40^ to his credit, a very respectable 
showing for a two-year-old. 

Although Allerton goes into winter quarters 
with fewer honors than his stable companion. Ax- 
tell, still what he has done is good, and he has a 



58 



ALLERTON AS A TWO YEAR OLD. 



great rnany friends, one in particular, John Hus- 
sey, the young man who has driven him and 
cared for him through the season. 

Here we will leave him, also, to the tender mer- 
cies of C. W. Williams, and await developments. 




A LLER 1 OX IN THREE- YEA R- OLD FORM. 59 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ALLERTON IN HIS THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

Allerton's first appearance on the turf in 1889, 
is at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 25, where he is en- 
tered and started in the 2:29 class, and secures 
third money, and this was doing remarkably well, 
when it is taken into consideration that he Avas 
battling against a field of aged horses, some of 
them with records below 2:30. He was third in 
2:31^ and second in 2:32. The Horseman says of 
him: U C. W. William's brown colt, Allerton, by 
Jay Bird, made a good showing, and satisfied the 
public that he is a colt that will prove himself a 
winner after trotting a few races." 

This looks like pretty rough work on a three- 
year-old. But Mr. Williams evidently knows his 
horse, and he should be the most competent judge. 

In just eight days from this time, July 3, 
1889, Allerton is again started against a field of 
ten seasoned campaigners at Minneapolis. Minn., 
in the 2:37 class, for a purse of $500. He not 



60 A LL ER TON IN THREE- YEA R- OLD FORM. 

only makes a good showing in this race, but lands 
first money and secures a splendid race record. 

u In the 2:37 trot, ten horses made their ap- 
pearance at the call. Ouida was drawn. Ichi 
Ban was a strong favorite, selling for $10, and 
the field $10. The favorite won the first heat, and 
then Allerton, a horse that was never thought of 
by the talent, went on and won the next three 
heats. Allerton is a three-year-old by Jay Bird, 
and is owned by C. W. Williams, owner of Axtell. 
Mr. Williams is the owner of two wonderful colts. 
I fully believe Allerton can beat 2:20, and I am 
confident he can beat any three-year-old, barring 
his stable companion. When the horses made 
their appearance for the fourth heat, Mr. Prentice, 
the driver of Ichi Ban, was requested by the 
judges to dismount, and John Splan took his seat. 
Splan made one of his great drives, but failed to 
beat the colt/' 

The time in this race was 2:29, 2:27, 2:26J, 
2:24^. Allerton is showing himself to be a great 
race horse. Well, you may depend upon it that 
every thing that could be done, whether by fair 
means or otherwise, was done to defeat him. Even 
the judges were deceived to the extent of calling 
down the driver of Ichi Ban, and substituting 
John Splan. It w r ould now seem that Williams' 
chance for winning was very poor against such a 



ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 61 

finisher as Splan was known to be, but it all made 
no difference. The great colt reeled off the miles 
just fast enough to reach the wire first and win the 
rnoney. 

All the trotting world was watching and wait- 
ing with interest the race at St. Paul, Minn., July 
13. The day was dark and gloomy, and while 
many were disappointed in witnessing the race, 
the}' were not disappointed in the way in which 
Allerton acquitted himself. Six horses were en- 
tered in the race, and Allerton won in three 

straight heats, scoring a mark of 2:23 in the see- 
to ' o 

ond heat, and showing that he was not merely a 
fair day, good weather race horse by trotting the 
third heat in a heavy shower in 2:2if. Given a 
good track, and feeling at himself, Allerton un- 
doubtedly, can beat 2:20 quite easily. 

August 30th, at Cleveland. Ohio, Allerton is 
again started in a race. Although he is not vic- 
torious, he gains hosts of friends by his excellent 
performance. "C. W. Williams' great three- 
year old colt, Allerton, drew a bad position in a 
field of thirteen aged starters. In the third beat 
he trotted around the bunch, and trotted the mile 
in 2:20{. People declared it was a shame to put 
a three-year-old to such a test, yet an astute horse 
man who watched him cool out, remarked he was 
so little distressed and breathed so easily he would 



62 ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

not blow out a candle. They said it was an out- 
rage, simply because it had not been done before, 
forgetting it is easier for some horses to trot in 
2:20 than for others to trot in 2:30. Through all 
the ages the people have been unreasoning and 
capricious. They declare a thing to be impos- 
sible, yet when some man or beast has accom- 
plished a great feat they make an idol of him. 
Allerton is a great colt and a race horse, and we 
are breeding great colts in this day and age. The 
truth is, breeding is getting to be a science, and 
we progress.'' (Horseman.) 

Quite true! Breeding is getting to be a science, 
and it looks very much as if C. W. Williams had 
mastered this particular thing. The wind-up of 
the little notice in the Horseman sounds just a lit- 
tle as if the writer thought that there was being 
too much said about Allerton or his owner, per- 
haps a little of both. Let us ask the question why 
should Mr. Williams not receive the applause of 
the nation? Who, up to this time, had donew T hat 
he had done — bred, trained and driven to their 
records two colts, three years old, one with a 
record of 2:14f, the other with a record of 2:23, 
and had trotted in 2:20^ in a non-winning heat in a 
race? Who had done this, or come any where 
near it? It is the rare things that are sought 
after, and Axtell's, Allerton's and C. W. Williams' 



ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OID FORM. 63 

are most certainty in this class. If there is a na- 
tion on the face of the earth that has anything in 
this line that will compare with this trio, we would 
like to see it. 

Three days later, August 2nd, Mr. Williams 
started Allerton against time 2:23, winning in 
2:20 J. The next day, August 3rd, he is again 
started against 2:20-J, winning in 2:19. Although 
he did not win the race at Cleveland, he has re- 
'duced his record twice, gaining a mark of 2:19. 
Good enough! 

Allerton is shipped from Cleveland to Chicago, 
to attend the Northwestern Breeders' meeting, 
and take a hand in the races. The first race in 
which he participates is the 2:35 class; purse 
$2,000. The Horseman describes it thus: "To- 
day the question in the 2:35 stake is, can the great 
three-year-old Allerton beat a good field of aged 
horses? It is the opinion of the most astute horse- 
men that he can, and they are, before the first 
heat, freely exchanging the -'Lincoln green" for 
bits of paste board on which is written Allerton. 
$50, field $50. Victoria Wilkes was installed as 
second choice, and many friends of the Onwards 
and Dictators were firm in the belief that she 
would lead the colt a merry dance. 

The first heat was called, and as the word was 
given, the bav stallion. Poem, by General Wash- 



G4 ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

ington, assumed the lead and held it to the dis- 
tance. Allerton was a fair second to the head of 
the stretch, and Victoria Wilkes third. From this 
point Williams began to drive, and foot by foot 
gained on Poem, sending him to a series of breaks 
and beating him at the wire in 2:21 J. 

The second heat was called, and Allerton sold 
for 150, and the field $15. Allerton took the lead 
and was never headed. Poem kept at his wheel, 
frequently indulging in his handy breaks, for 
which he was set back to third place. Victoria 
AVilkes made a spurt on the upper turn, and looked 
like a contestant, but died away in the stretch and 
got sixth place. 

The third heat was a surprise. There was no 
betting, the race being conceded to Allerton. The 
word was given, and at once Allerton broke and 
could not settle to a trot until the entire field had 
passed him. John W. led to the head of the 
stretch, where Victoria Wilkes assumed the lead 
and won at will in 2:25-J, Alric was- second, Poem 
third and John W. fourth. 

The fourth heat was considered a sure thing 
for Allerton. The result showed that even the 
wise men sometimes have to "guess again," as it 
was won in 2:25^- by John W., with Victoria 
Wilkes second, and Alric third. The fifth heat 
was intensely exciting. Alric took the lead and 



ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 65 

maintained it to the three quarters, where Aller- 
ton came to his wheel. There was a pretty race 
down the stretch between Allerton, John W. and 
Alric. Allerton won, John W. was second, and 
Alric third, in 2:24. Allerton is a sure enough 
race horse." 

August 23, 1889, still finds Allerton at Chi- 
cago, where he is entered in the 2:27 class; purse, 
12,000. u The first regular race on the day's pro- 
gram was the Washington Park stake, for the 2:27 
class. The starters were So Long, Silver Cloud, 
Elista, Bassenger Boy, Erin, Dixie V., Allerton, 
Alaric and Glamour. In the betting, Allerton 
sold for $25, Elista 820, Bassenger Boy $13, 
Alaric $5, and the field $15. Silver Cloud drew 
the pole. On the third score the word was given, 
with Bassenger Boy on a break. Allerton went 
to the front and was never headed. Silver Cloud 
was second all the way, Dixie V. third and Elista 
fourth, until near the wire, when Starr called on 
her for a brush, and she finished third. 

Before the second heat Bassenger Boy sold for 
$25, Allerton $20, Elista $15, field $8. Allerton 
simply marched off and won the heat in 2:21. 
Elista was second to the upper turn, where Bas- 
senger Boy took second place and made play for 
the heat. At the distance he had crept to Aller- 



66 ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 

ton's girth and the crowd shouted: "Bassenger 
wins," but Williams let go the colt's head, and it 
was all over. 

The race was now conceded to Allerton, aud 
when the word was given the Jay Bird colt pulled 
away from the field and trotted one of the fastest 
heats on record, and had it been made yesterday 
before Faust secured his 2:1s, it would have been 
the fastest for a three-year-old in a race. Bassen- 
ger Boy kept the colt company to the head of the 
stretch, the rirst three quarters being finished in 
35^, 35 and 34f seconds. Turning into the stretch 
Williams made his drive, sending Allerton the last 
quarter in 33J seconds, making the mile in2:18J. 
The applause at the finish was almost deafening." 

Two great victories in the compass of four 
days! Two thousand dollars in cool cash aside 
from the increased value of the horse! Remem- 
ber, Allerton is but three years old; he is a stallion 
with his whole life before him. It would not be 
strange if Mr. Williams were to become a little 
vain after gaining so many victories, and rising in 
one short year from the ordinary walks of life to 
a position where his name is fast becoming famous 
throughout the land. But not so. He is the 
same matter of fact, hard working man that he 
has always been. 



ALLERTON IN THREE-YEAR-OLD FORM. 67 

Allerton's next performance is at Independ- 
ence, Iowa, against time 2:23, for a purse of 
1500. Allerton wins easily in 2:22. 

He makes his next start at Des Moines, Iowa, 
September 3, 1889; stake for foals of 1886. 
After winning two heats, Allerton went lame and 
w r as drawn. This proved to be a serious matter. 
He was left at Des Moines in charge of John Hus- 
sey, and it was three weeks before he could be 
moved, and at the end of that time, it required an 
hour to lead him one half mile. This ended his 
work for the season. In fact it was thought that 
he had trotted his last mile. But good care 
brought him through the winter, and early in the 
spring he was able to jog, although still quite lame. 
Had his owner been a man of less determination, 
there might have been lost to the turf the grand- 
est race horse that ever scored for the word. 




ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 



CHAPTER IX. 

ALLERTON AS A FOUR YEAR OLD. 

Allerton's first public performance as a four- 
year-old is at Independence, Iowa, on the new kite 
shaped track, at the first meeting held on the new 
grounds at Rush Park. The Horseman, dated 
July 17, 1890, speaks of it as follows: 

"While the horses were getting ready for the 
2:45 trot, Allerton was brought out to warm up 
for a mile. His appearance on the track was ac- 
knowledged by deafening shouts by the spectators. 
Although he showed signs of lameness, he went 
with that determination characteristic of a great 
race horse. After ajittle jogging, he was driven 
a mile to beat 2:18J. The first heat he knocked 
off one-quarter of a second. Mr. Williams not 
being satisfied with that mark, he was driven three 
heats more, obtaining a record of 2:1 6f in the 
third heat." 

Although the great colt has been lame, and it 
has been prophesied that he would never again 
trot a fast mile, he has already trotted the fastest 
heat of the year, in a record-breaking mile. 



ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 69 

His next start is at Detroit, Michigan, in the 
Horseman's Great Expectation Stake. This event 
is well written up by the correspondent of Clark's 
Horse Review: 

"Detroit, Michigan, July 24, 1890. The 
Great Expectation stake was called. It was a 
stake opened four years ago by The Horseman, 
and was extremely valuable. There were five start- 
ers; Baroness, by Mambrino, dam by Mambrino 
Patchen; Navidad, by Whips; Margaret 8., by 
Director; Allerton, by Jay Bird; and Sir Walter 
Scott, by North Star. It was conceded by all 
horsemen that the contest for first place was nar- 
rowed down to the great stallion, Allerton, and 
the superb filly, Margaret S: They alternated as 
favorites, according to the disposition of the crowd. 
Allerton had trotted on July 4th to a record of 
2:161, and Margaret S. had won a third heat at 
Saginaw, in 2:17^. The word was given to an 
excellent start, and Margaret S. shot to the front, 
and at the quarter was lengths in the lead. Aller- 
ton broke on the turn and was way out; McDowell 
drove Margaret S. right along to the half in 1:08-J, 
and at this point it looked as though the others 
were distanced. At the head of the stretch, he 
set out to drive in dead earnest, and swept under 
the wire in 2:1SJ, with all the others outside 
the flag except Allerton, who was, according to 



70 A LLER TON AS A FOUR- YEA R- OLD. 

the distance judge, inside by a neck. The heat 
aroused intense excitement, and the general belief 
was that Margaret S. had distanced the entire 
field. It was such a surprise that the vast audi- 
ence had litttle to say, and anxiously awaited the 
vedict. The judges deliberated some time and 
rigidly examined the distance judge, who was firm 
in his declaration that Allerton was in. When 
Mr. Campari arose to announce the decision, there 
were few in the audience who expected to hear 
that there would be another heat in the great stake. 
Margaret S. was first and Allerton second. It . 
was dark and cloudy when the second heat was 
called. Margaret S. at once set the pace, and at 
the half was two lengths in the lead. From this 
point Allerton began to creep up, and one of the 
grandest finishes ever seen on a race track ensued. 
The superb pair trotted steadily and very fast, 
each with true, regular stroke, neither making a 
skip or bobble. The filly maintained a decided 
advantage until well inside the distance, when Al- 
lerton got to her girth, and creeping up inch by 
inch, finally swept under the wire winner, by half 
a length, of one of the grandest heats ever trotted. 
The time was 2:16J, and the last half was trotted 
in 1:06^, and the track was estimated to be two 
seconds slow. The immense audience was excited to 
frenzied enthusiasm at the great finish, and Wil- ' 



ALLER TON AS A FO UR- YEAR- OLD. 71 

liams, with the grand colt, was received with tre- 
mendous applause. It was a heat, the like of 
which is rarely seen. The last heat had scarcely 
been trotted when a terrible storm arose. The 
lightning flashed, the thunder roared, and the flood 
gates of heaven were opened and the rain descended 
in torrents upon the just and the unjust, and in 
two minutes the track was transformed into a sea 
of sticky mud. The races were therefore post- 
poned until next day. 

On Friday morning the sun came out, and at 
one o'clock the track was in moderately good con- 
dition. The free-for all pace was first on the card, 
and Adonis won it without a struggle in 2:20f, 
and 2:18f; Grey Harry, second. 

Next there was the great contest between the 
four-year-olds, Allerton and Margaret 8. Con- 
cerning the question as to whether Allerton was 
outside the flag in the first heat, there were "'many 
men of many minds.'' Each and every man was 
positive he was right. However, there was but 
one course for the judges, and that was to accept 
the distance judge's declaration. So Allerton 
was in it, and sold in the pools at fift} r to sixteen 
dollars for the mare. Just why any one should 
think there were such odds that any lame horse 
could beat Margaret the writer failed to under- 
stand. The first heat was called and Margaret, as 



72 ALLER TON AS A FO UR- YEA R- OLD. 

heretofore, shot out and placed herself two or 
three lengths in the lead at the half. Here Wil- 
liams made his drive, with Allerton, and entering 
the stretch, was only a short distance behind. 
McDowell made the mistake of selecting the pole 
which was heavy and muddy, and Williams swung 
to the right, where the footing was good. The re- 
sult was the filly tired in the mud, and Allerton 
won the heat by a neck in 2:18J. Then it rained 
again and the track got worse. The next heat 
McDowell adopted different tactics, and allowed 
the fill}'' to brush for a lead, which she got at once, 
but took her back and saved a brush for the finish. 
Entering the stretch he chose the outside, and the 
race down the stretch was grand. Three lengths 
from the wire it looked Allerton's heat, but Andy 
let go the filly's head and she wen with a great 
burst of speed, by a neck, in 2:23 J. The next 
heat was to decide a big stake. Margaret at once 
took a lead and, before reaching the quarter, 
Allerton broke and broke badly. He danced up 
and down and would not trot. When Margaret 
was at the half it was a foregone conclusion that 
she could distance the colt, and McDowell drove 
right along, winning at ease in 2:20f. Allerton 
was hopelessly distanced. Margaret won the 
entire stakes, amounting to $9,450. The colt and 
filly were each bred by their present owners, and 



ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 73 

by them entered in the stake. When Allerton 
won the second heat in 2:16 J, Williams remarked 
that it was no disgrace to the filly to be beaten in 
that time by a colt like Allerton. That was true, 
and it was no disgrace to Allerton to be beaten by 
a filly like Margaret." 

Another great race decided, and although our 
hero did not win, he has again demonstrated the 
fact that he is the greatest race stallion on earth. 

Allerton is next started in the 2:16 class at Terre 
Haute, Indiana, October 10th, 1890, for a purse 
of $1,000. Here he trots a good race, and wins 
in straight heats; time 2:20, 2:17^ and 2:15^. 
He has not lost any of his racing qualities since 
his great struggle at Detroit. Three heats, the 
average time of which is 2:17-f, is something 
wonderful when it is taken into consideration that 
Allerton was still suffering from lameness. The 
question was often asked, what would he do if he 
was good on all of his legs? 

The next engagement is at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, October 11th, in the 2:19 class, for a purse 
of $5,000. Here the courageous colt is to meet 
the mighty McDoel and his illustrious driver, 
Budd Doble, the pair that have won during the 
season twenty-one heats in an average time of a 
little better than 2:20. The race is described in 
Clark's Horse Review as follows: 



74 ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 

u The great race of the meeting was the 2:19 
stake for $5,000. The starters were McDoel, Al- 
lerton, Hendryx, Stevie, Keno F, Walter E, 
Diamond and Henrietta. It was a grand race, 
and its prominent features can be expressed in a 
few words. The contest for first money narrowed 
down to the speedy McDoel and the wonderful 
four-year-old, Allerton. Stevie had to trot the 
best race of his life to carry off" third money. 
Almost all interest centered in the contest for first 
money. All the other horses were good, and 
except for the quality of these two, would have 
been noticeable factors. The whole point was in 
a nut shell. It was known that McDoel could trot 
a mile in 2:15 or better, and could brush a quarter 
in 31 seconds. All that ought to beat almost any 
horse; but was he game when pinched and car- 
ried two or three miles to his clip? That no one 
knew, for he had not been tested. It was known 
that Allerton was capable of a mile in about 2:15, 
and when in condition would stay all day, and in 
any event was one of the grandest horses that ever 
looked through a bridle. He had only been four 
weeks out of paddock, and it seemed outside the 
bounds of reason that any horse thus short of 
condition for a punishing race could stay and beat 
McDoel. These were the conditions that influ- 
enced the betting, and McDoel sold favorite, but 



ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 75 

Allerton was well up. As the horses appeared on 
the track there was a little ripple of excitement, 
for people felt they were to see a battle of giants 
fought to the death. The first heat McDoel won 
with all ease, with Hendryx second, Stevie third 
and Allerton fourth. It was an easy heat in 2 : 1 9 J. 
The second heat McDoel won, but Allerton was 
after him from the half, and finished a close 
second, with Walter E third. It was in 2:17J, and 
neither Allerton nor McDoel had been extended. 
But now they were together, side by side, and 
people knew the next heat would be war to the 
knife. As they scored for the third heat the ex- 
citement was intense. Four or five times they 
scored amid a silence as of death. Then there 
went up through the great concourse of men and 
women that mesmeric feeling that is sometimes 
created by a repressed excitement, as they turned 
the last time and came head and head for the word. 
All barriers were swept away, all restraint thrown 
off and with one accord, men and women arose to 
their feet and stood on benches and wherever there 
was foothold, feeling that the time had come and 
the great battle would commence. The word was 
given and with a rush they went around the turn, 
and on they flew to the stretch. With an electrical 
burst of speed Allerton rushed to the front, and 
Doble let him go, content to lay in his wheel. 



76 ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 

Full well he knew the only way to beat the greatest 
racer of his age that e'er the sun shone on was to 
wait, and at the last call for all the reserve of Mc- 
Doel's wonderful brush. So they went to the half 
in 1:07^, and to the three-quarter in 1:42^. The 
tactics were the same. As they swung into the 
stretch excitement was at fever heat. The time 
was fast and now was the critical moment. Could 
the colt stand that fearful brush down the stretch? 
All who knew him knew he would fight till he 
died, but did he have the speed? Heading into 
the stretch, just on the crest of the hill, Doble, 
with all his matchless skill, commenced his drive. 
Down that hill they came like a cyclone, that in 
its mad career would sweep everything before it 
off the earth. On they come, and now McDoel 
begins to gain. The colt trots just as fast, but 
that gelding's almost superhuman flight of speed 
began to tell. He was at the stallion's girth, then 
inch by inch he gained until his head was reached. 
Then Doble gathered him together, and asked 
him for one do or die effort. Nobly he responded 
and on he came, gaining foot by foot. He was 
clearly in the lead. At the distance Allerton 
broke, and through that great audience there could 
be heard a sigh, like the sobbing of the wind 
among the pines, for their hearts were with the 
great youngster who, single handed and alone, was 



ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 77 

gamely fighting one of the giants of the turf. 
Bat see! He's caught again! It was only a little 
break, for tired, exhausted nature demanded some 
relief. Yes, he's caught again, and Williams 
gently applied the whip. Heavens ! what a change ! 
All the pride of his noble nature resented the 
indignity; every drop of royal blood that pulsated 
from his great heart warmed at the insult, and 
with head high in air, with his great nostrils widely 
expanded and his beautiful eyes flashing fire, he 
rallied for one last grand, almost despairing effort, 
and on he came, looking in his wrath and sublime 
determination for all the world like a demon incar- 
nate, and fifty yards from the wire, with unfalter- 
ing stride, he had McDoel's wheel, and step by 
step he gained until he swept under the wire, 
winner by a length of one of the grandest heats 
ever trotted on all the earth. McDoel had made 
his marvelous brush. It was all over, and Aller- 
ton for the second time had trotted a third heat in 
2:15^. Dear reader, were you ever in a storm at 
sea? Have you heard the terrific roar of the 
angry waves as they dashed, mountains high, 
against your ill fated craft? Do you remember the 
intense calm and silence that preceded the storm? 
Well, for a moment just such a silence, and then, 
as the grandeur of the heat became understood* 
there arose from that audience a mighty shout,. 



78 ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 

a yell of joy and gladness that rose and fell and 
rose again till it waked the echoes through all the 
region of the blue grass. Men shouted and sbook 
hands, and then all yelled again. Women stood 
on the seats and laughed and cheered and cheered 
and laughed. It was a great battle worthily won 
by one of the grandest horses ever born unto the 
earth. When it was time for the horses to go 
again it was too dark, and 'postponed until to- 
morrow' was announced. 

The fourth heat was nearly the same as the one 
the night before, except that Allerton could not 
win, but trotted in 2:16 and forced McDoel to trot 
in 2:15J." 

It would be useless to try to add anything to 
this eloquent rehearsal of the great race, suffice it 
to say that it was truly wonderful. 

After the Lexington meeting Allerton is not 
started again until the fall meeting at Independence. 
A short account of this meeting will give the 
reader some idea of the rapid strides Independ- 
ence was making as a great horse center, and the 
kite-shaped track at Rush Park, in particular, was 
already famous throughout the horse world. 

It looked like folly to undertake a meeting so 
late in the season, but people are beginning to 
have faith in the so-called "Lucky Williams." 



ALLER TON AS A FO UR- YEA R- OLD. 79 

The public are learning to know that he is an ex- 
cellent business man, that there is method in all 
that he does, and that they can depend upon him. 

Late in the season as it is, we find a large 
number of entries. There is something near two 
hundred and fifty entries in class races, and a 
host of candidates for standard stakes. There 
were nineteen class races, the purse the same in 
each, $300; the purses being the same in the trot- 
ting and pacing classes. 

At first glance we are surprised that so many 
horses would enter in these races so late in the 
season, but after more mature deliberation the 
reason is very plain. The Independence mile 
track is the fastest on earth, and breeders desirous 
of obtaining records flocked there in great num- 
bers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

Independence is a world-famed little city 
already. No need now, when speaking of Inde- 
pendence, to add Iowa; every one knows what is 
meant. The name of Allerton and Independence 
have become inseparably connected, never to be 
separated. In ages to come, gray -haired grand- 
fathers will relate to bright-eyed boys the story of 
Allerton, Axtell and C. W. Williams. 

At this meeting Allerton was again started 
against his record, on October 23d, 1S90. He 
was started against time 2:15^ and trotted in 2:14, 



80 ALLERTON AS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. 

reducing his own record and clipping a second off 
of the four-year-old stallion record. 

On October 2Sth, he was again started against 
2:14, making two trials and trotting both miles in 
exactly 2:15. He failed to reduce his record, but 
trotted two wonderful miles. 

October 30th, he is again sent to beat 2:14, 
but failed, trotting in 2:28 and 2:14, equalling but 
not lowering his record. 

November 1st, he is again speeded on the en- 
chanted course, this time a winner; Allerton 
against time 2:14; won, time 2:13f. Again, 
the same day, he goes against' 2 :13f, and clips off 
one-quarter of a second, giving him a mark of 
2:13i 

This ends, for the season of 1890, the turf career 
of the grandest four-year-old that the world has ever 
seen. He has won more heats inside of 2:30 than 
any other horse of his age ever did. In his three 
and four-year-old form he has placed thirty-four 
heats to his credit. Nancy Hanks, 2:14^, won 
twenty-nine heats inside of 2:30, although she has 
not trotted anything like the number of fast heats 
in races that Allerton has, as she has in all cases 
out-classed her competitors, and every heat trot- 
ted, with a single exception, has been credited to 
her, while Allerton has been in the hottest com- 
pany and lost many fast heats. 



ALLERTOX REDUCING HIS RECORD. 81 



CHAPTER X. 

ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD AS A FVE- YEAR- 
OLD. HIS GREAT RACE WITH NANCY HANKS AND 
MARGARET S. 

Allerton, in the spring of 1891, was perhaps 
in better form than he had ever been. He had 
been jogged ten to fifteen miles per day through 
the winter when the weather would admit, and the 
first time that he was started he £ave evidence 
that he still retained his speed. As early as the 
middle of April he trotted an eighth in 17J sec- 
onds and had already been bred to thirty -two 
mares. He was given an abundance of work 
through the stud season, more than most trainers 
would have recommended under the circumstances. 
About the first week in June he was given his first 
mile in 2:27, moving along at a lively clip in the 
last half. 

He continued to show good form, and at the 
July meeting at Independence was started against 
bis record of 2:13^, from which he clips one-half 
second, and did it in grand style. This is a won- 



82 ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. 

derful performance when it is remembered that he 
is still in the stud, having had sixty-nine mares to 
his embrace during the season. 

In a few days after lowering his record to 2:13, 
he trotted a quarter in 31J seconds. The great 
son of Jay Bird was being watched with a great 
deal of interest at this time, for, be it remembered, 
he was entered in the great five-year-old race to be 
trotted over the Independence course in August. 
It was the opinion of a majority of the horsemen 
throughout the country that he would not be fit 
after a heavy season in the stud. However, he 
continued to improve, and on the 5th day of 
August clipped another second off his record, 
trotting the mile without a skip in 2:12! 

At last the great feat is accomplished! Is there 
anything significant about this record ? A little 
less than two years ago C. W. Williams drove the 
great three-year-old, Axtell, in exactly the same 
time. What other man has done such a thing — 
the first colts ever foaled his, and he has driven 
them both to this amazingly low record. Ah! 
there is something beside good luck in all this. 
There is good management, good judgment, and 
a world of perseverence. 

After this performance, the great stallion and 
race horse is simply kept in the best possible con- 
dition, the long looked for race being near at hand. 



ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. S3 

The event is so ably described in the Horseman 
that we will give it to our readers as we find it in 
the issue of September 3d, 1891: 

"Thursday dawned bright and cool and clear 
at Independence. At last the great day had ar- 
rived, and from the four points of the compass, 
afoot, on horseback, in 'lumber' wagons, freight 
cars and Pullmans, thousands streamed across the 
prairie to witness the widely heralded duel be- 
tween Nancy Hanks and Allerton. Long before 
noon the meagre seating capacity of Rush Park's 
grand stand was overtaxed. At 1 o'clock the 
lawn and quarter stretch were densely packed, the 
infield crowded a full furlong from the start and 
finish, while along the picket fences, upon grand 
stand roofs, and stable roofs men stood or clung 
wherever a glimpse of the course might be had. 
And when at 2 o'clock Williams, with flushed face, 
moved Allerton down the stretch cheers rose and 
hands were clapped in admiration by more than 
20,000 spectators. The stallion was truly grand. 
A bit of blue was twined in the braided foretop, 
and his rich mahogany coat flashed back the ray? 
of sunlight as he jogged along, ears pricked, in- 
quisitively surveying the surging crowd. Power 
united with resolution was the impression his ap- 
pearance conveyed. Allerton has filled and grown 
in muscular development within the year last past. 



84 ALLER TON RED UCING HIS RECORD. 

To-day he is the picture of a powerful trotting 
race horse. At no point in his make-up is there a 
shade of the grossness so often mistaken for sub- 
stance, yet from the enormously deep shoulder 
and brisket back to the broad, swelling stifles one 
sees an embodiment of power which is almost 
awe-inspiring. The five-year-old is something 
lacking in length and range, however. He is not 
racy-looking or really handsome. But he is grand 
to the fullest sense of the term. 

Williams brought him to the post in almost 
perfect condition. If Doble had been working on 
Nancy Hanks the season through with a single 
eye to shaping her for this event, the Independ- 
ence man had done but little less, although of 
course his horse was at a great disadvantage, hav- 
ing made a stud season of seventy-six mares, ex- 
tending up to within a very few weeks of the 
race. Williams, however, had managed to keep 
the stallion hard and strong by roading him fifteen 
miles a day all through the preceding winter and 
early spring, until the track grew fit for fast work, 
when active preparation for the race was begun, 
right in the height of the breeding season. In 
his warming up work he sweated out clear and 
free, showing he was not far from right. If 
Allerton suggests power, his great rival typified 
speed. Nancy Hanks' fine, blood-like neck, high 



ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. 85 

croup, deep, drooping quarters and Sunol-like con- 
formation make her almost a model, except in 
point of size, of what the queen of the turf should 
be. The little bay mare never before looked so 
eager, so fit, or so full of speed as when Doble 
breezed her through the stretch in her preliminary 
work. She was even rank and almost unruly, 
such was her anxiety to go. As for the other 
starter, Margaret S, the great filly that had trot- 
ted the Independence track in 2: 12 J, as a four- 
year-old, her coat was dull, she had a baked-up 
look, and could not begin to speed like the Ken- 
tucky mare. A delegation of Kentuckians and 
southerners such as one seldom sees on a Northern 
race track were on hand to witness the race, and 
they poured money into the pool-box on the Happy 
Medium Mare. Heavy betting had been going on 
since the beginning of the week. At first the 
odds were two to one on Nancy against the horse. 
But the night before, at the down-town pool-room, 
when Lowry called for bids on the big race of the 
week, and John Madden, resting his elbows on the 
railing of the stand and assuming an attitude of 
determination, bid $500 for choice, taking Hanks, 
only $235 could be had for the Allerton end, even 
though the genteel auctioneer pleaded well for the 
chance of the stallion, arguing, after the opinion 
held by many, that although the filly might be the 



86 ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. . 

faster of the two, her Happy Medium blood would 
come to the surface when she was called upon to go 
three heats right close to the limit of her speed, 
and the dead-game son of Jay Bird would beat 
her to the end. After this the odds on the mare 
grew longer, until just before the start it was $1 00 
to $10, Nancy against the field. Nearly all the 
shrewdest turfmen seemed to think the filly must 
win. They relied almost wholly upon her sup- 
posed superior speed. It was generally conceded 
that in case Allerton should prove her equal or 
near it in this respect, his matchless gameness and 
capacit} T to repeat would give the victory to him. 
But the mare was fully two seconds faster, a good 
many were inclined to believe. She had trotted 
the tracks at Rochester and Chicago in 2:12J, 
while Allerton had bettered this time but a quarter 
of a second over the much faster track at Inde- 
pendence. Doble himself had been heard to say 
when Nelson trotted in 2:10f the day before that 
he would match the five-year-old in his stable 
against the stallion king for either a dash, a re- 
peat or a race of heats, three in five. This was 
equivalent to saying Nancy Hanks could, if called 
upon, trot better than 2:11. Before the three 
contestants had scored more than once or twice, an 
incident occurred which went very far to confirm 
the belief that Nancy had the speed of Allerton, 



ALLER TON RED UCING HIS RECORD. 87 

with a good deal besides to spare. Doble turned 
well back of the other two, up above the cross- 
ing, and fifty yards from the wire the stallion, 
coming on at top speed, must have been fully two 
lengths ahead of the little mare. But from there 
she came with such an astonishing rush that before 
the stand was reached Allerton's advantage was 
but the length of his neck, and Nancy seemed to 
be going right through the other two. This dis- 
play of speed opened the eyes of a good many 
people, and it is said that some Allerton men 
sought the hedge without waiting to see anything 
more. On the fourth attempt they got away to a 
very even start, Allerton at the pole. It was Wil- 
liams' plan to make the pace hot from the very 
start, hoping to carry the mare so fast to the half 
with the dead-game stallion he drove that she 
would wilt in the home stretch, or failing in this, 
to make her go the full mile at a cracking rate, 
which would leave her unable to repeat and come 
back three heats below the limit of Allerton's speed. 
He therefore let the brown horse sail as soon as the 
word was given, covering the first quarter in 0:32-J- 
— a 2:10 gait — and then increasing the pace to a 
2:06 gait in the next, Doble's rapid-gaited race 
mare the while not more than a head to the rear, 
and actually seeming to be going within herself, 
while Allerton was clearly enough strung out to 



88 ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. 

his utmost reach. Beyond the half in 1:04 the 
killing clip was maintained, and then it was seen 
that the heat, at least, and probably the race, be- 
longed to Nancy Hanks, for her bay muzzle, head 
and neck appeared in front as she drew away 
slightly, until rounding into the stretch her lead 
was a full open length. Doble might have taken 
the pole if he had chosen to do so, and thereby 
forced Williams to pull out and go around in mak- 
ing his drive, but instead, as if he himself was 
anxious not to take any advantage whatever, Budd 
left him the track for his finish. Allerton had 
little need of it, however. He had gone his limit 
all the way, while the mare was coming on ap- 
parently at ease, her driver glancing over his 
shoulder once or twice to see where Allerton was. 
Near the distance Williams called on his horse for 
a hopeless final effort. The great colt rallied, 
pumped out though he was, and tried to make a 
finish worthy of himself. Trotting too fast he 
went to a break, falling back a couple of lengths, 
then catching quickly came on with such a rush 
that at the wire he was again on Nancy's wheel. 
A storm of cheers followed the close finish — close 
because Doble had not made a visible move to drive 
his mare — and when Starter Walker announced 
the winner's time, 2:12, a second faster than the 
previous race record, applause burst forth again. 



ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. 89 

If Williams had rated Allerton with a view to 
driving him in the fastest possible time, instead of 
setting the pace so hot at the start in the hope of 
killing the mare, it is not at all unlikely Hanks 
would have had to go in 2:11 or better to win, but 
she could have done it without any manner of 
doubt. It was clear enough after this exhibition 
that Nancy Hanks had the speed to win. Unless 
she should prove unable to repeat, her victory was 
assured. The young mare had gone the mile well 
within herself; she was out of a Dictator dam — a 
line as stout as any thoroughbred strain in the stud- 
book — and there was no reason to believe she 
would wilt. Although Allerton came back in 
savage style, forcing her to trot the second heat in 
2:12f and the third in 2:12 again, she was easily 
equal to the task, Doble never having to make a 
move in order to land his filly a winner. Williams 
stuck to his original plan in each of the following 
heats, carrying Nancy Hanks to the half as fast as 
Allerton could go, once in 1:05 and then in 1:05-J, 
hoping the Happy Medium mare might crack at 
the last under the trying test. But for the stal- 
lion's double break iu the second mile, when he 
rushed away too fast, the time of every heat of 
the race would have been as fast as 2:12. As it 
was, the winner beat the race record in three con- 
secutive heats, while Allerton's time at the wire 



90 ALLERTON REDUCING HIS RECORD. 

was 2:12J, 2:13^ and 2:13, a performance which 
no other stallion in the world has ever equaled or 
even approached. Notwithstanding the fact that 
he was defeated, the Jay Bird colt came out of the 
fray more popular with turfmen than he had been 
before. Nancy Hanks was too fast for him. That 
was all. It is no sure thing that Doble could not 
have driven his filly the opening heat below the 
five-year-old record, 2:10f, of Jay -Eye-See. She 
looks to be that good." 

The correspondent to the Horseman says that 
the great Jay Bird colt made hosts of friends by 
his wonderful performance. Well deserved praise ! 
What other horse is there above ground that can 
anywhere near equal it? To use a turf expression, 
he trotted the three miles "on his toes." 




ALLERTON, KIXG OF STALLIOXS. 91 



CHAPTER XL 

ALLERTON, THE KING OF TROTTING STALLIONS— 2: 09J 

Although AllertoD was defeated in the great 
race with Nancy Hanks, he is not done yet. 
That was simply a keying-up performance. On 
August 31, just four days later, he is started 
against his record of 2:12, trotting the mile with- 
out a break in 2:11, clipping another second from 
his already low record. 

His shoes in front had been changed since his 
race, for a pair weighing five ounces each, while 
those behind weighed only three. 

On September <±th, he is again started. In a 
supplement to the American Trotter, dated Sep- 
tember 3, 1891, is the following: 

''The sun was just sinking into the west, when 
the cheers of the audience announced the coming 
of the king of stallions. Allerton shook his head 
and pranced, as if he was a colt fresh from the 
pasture, instead of one who had within nine short 
days gone the fastest race of the century, and 
then four days after trotted a mile only e<|ualled 



92 ALLERTON, KING OF STALLIONS. 

by two stallions since trotting began. He was 
rank and wanted to be given his head, and it took 
the combined efforts of two grooms to hold him, 
till his driver could climb into the sulky. 

He scored by the stand a couple of times, and 
then got the word, going like a steam engine. 
Hussey went after him with the runner, and he 
reached the quarter, going as true as a piece of 
machinery, in exactly 32J seconds. Williams 
took him back around the turn, passing the half 
under a strong pull, in 1:05£. From there to the 
three-quarter pole he gathered speed with every 
stroke, and the third stage of his record breaking 
trip was made in 1:38. 

Here John Hussey brought up the runner, 
and Allerton shook his head with that peculiar 
determined gesture so often noted when he begins 
one of his irresistible rushes, and finished the 
mile at close to a two-minute gait, stopping the 
watches at two minutes and ten seconds. Only 
once did Williams call on him, and then it was 
inside the distance, and he came away as if he 
was just at the start, instead of the finish, of a 
supreme effort. 

The crowd went wild, and long continued 
cheering conveyed to the people in the city, a 
mile away, the intimation that something unusual 
had happened. 



ALLERTON, KING OF STALLIONS. 93 

Cheers were proposed and given with a will, 
for Williams, the fastest stallion on earth, the kite 
shaped track, and finally for John Hussey and 
Old Ned Gordon, the faithful runner, that has 
rated most of the record-breaking miles in the last 
ten years. Mr. Williams has just cause to be the 
proudest man on earth. He has, by every test, 
the greatest stallion on earth, not lacking in a 
single point. 

The time announced was that of the slowest 
watch in the stand. Many prominent horsemen, 
among them, Mr. Salisbury, made the time 2: 09 J, 
and so did one of the official timers." 

A few days after, he again trotted in 2:10, and 
had he not made a break when almost to the wire, 
would have again lowered his record. Again, in 
less than one week, he marched off a mile in 2:10-J. 

Nine days later, September 19th, he is again 
started to beat his record of 2:10, which had been 
equalled the day before by Nelson. He went the 
first quarter in 32 j- seconds, the half in 1:05J, to 
the three quarters in 1:37-J, and the mile in 2:09J. 
The crowd went wild with enthusiasm. Of all 
the watches held on this mile, not one registered 
slower than 2:09 J, and by far the greatest number 
caught the time in 2:08f. It is believed by prom- 
inent horsemen, that had Allerton received his 
just dues, he would stand to-day on an equal foot- 



94 ALLERTON, KING OF STALLIONS. 

ing in point of record with Palo Alto, 2:08f. 
After a rest of one day, this veritable ball dog 
again reels off a mile in 2:09J. He certainly is 
not a quitter. 

Again, September 25th, he is started against 
his record of 2:09J. He failed to lower it, but 
came within one quarter of a second of it, trotting 
the mile in 2:09^. 

On the same afternoon, after a rest of one hour, 
he is started against the world's wagon record 
of 2:20, for stallions, made in 1890, over the 
Independence track, by Delmarch. It was the 
second time that Allerton had ever been hitched 
to a wagon. However, he goes away, trotting the 
mile in a strong, determined manner, in 2:15. 

About this time the public were clamorous 
for a meeting between our hero, the great eastern 
stallion, Nelson, 2:10, and Nancy Hanks, 2:09. 
Indeed, some of our Yankee neighbors had gone 
so far as to insinuate that the kite-shaped track at 
Independence was not a full mile. But this 
question was quickly settled by the sworn state- 
ment of the county surveyor of Buchanan County, 
which proved the track to be one foot and two 
inches over a mile. Again exception was taken, 
and it was said that the watches which were held 
on Allerton were slow in starting and quick to 
stop. Mr. Nelson, w T hen giving the time of his 



ALLERTON, KING OF STALLIONS. 95 

horse, proudly added, "regulation," after the 2:10, 
meaning that his horse had obtained his record 
over a regulation track. 

Mr. Williams offered every inducement to per- 
suade these men to come to Independence, but all 
to no purpose. He hesitated to ship so valuable 
a horse as Allerton, having been offered only a 
short time previous, $200,000 for him. How- 
ever, it seemed the only way out of it, was to go 
and trot; arrangements were made to meet Nelson 
at Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 8th, for a 
purse of $10,000, all to go to the winner, and no 
entrance fee; also, to meet Nancy Hanks at Lex- 
ington, Kentucky, October 15th, for a purse of 
$8,000, the conditions being the same. The 
Grand Rapids race is ably described in the Ameri 
can Trotter, dated October 15, 1891. 




THE ALLERTON-NELSON RACE. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE ALLERTON-NELSON RACE. 

Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 8, 1891. 
"This place, to-day, was the cynosure upon 
which the eyes of all the trotting world was turn- 
ed, for here a contest for supremacy between two 
stallions, each claiming the title of King, was de- 
cided. Never before in the history of the trotting 
turf had an animal with a record as fast as 2:10 
ever started in a race, but to-day two entire 
horses, one with a record of 2:09^, the other with 
a mark of 2:10, were engaged to settle, once for 
all, the disputed point, as to which was entitled to 
the first honor. Allerton's mark of 2:09J had 
been made over the kite-shaped track at Indepen- 
dence. Nelson's mark of 2:10, secured over the 
regulation course at this place, was claimed by his 
friends to be the most creditable performance of 
the two. The conditions of the contest were such 
that the advantage lay with the Maine horse. He 
was started this season over the various fast 



THE A LLERTON-NELSON RA CE. 97 

courses of the country, and the track on which he 
made his fastest mile was the one selected for the 
battle royal. On the other hand, Allerton had 
received all his training on the kite-shaped track, 
and the only fast work he had received this season 
on any other course, was the mile in 2:21^, given 
him here last Monday. 

This afternoon Allerton was given a few miles 
of easy exercise and then newly shod, with seven 
and one-half ounce shoes forward, and five ounce 
shoes behind. Nelson was not seen upon the track 
in the morning, but his owner, seated upon a box 
in front of his horse's stall, said that 'he never 
entered a race with as tranquil a feeling as he did 
this one.' and appeared confident of success. 
The track at this place is fair for a new one; it is 
built of clay loam, but, unless constantly kept wet 
and worked, is inclined to be mealy and cuppy ; the 
turns are also too flat. As early as niDe o'clock 
this morning, the people began to flock to the 
well appointed grounds of the West Michigan 
Fair Association, and by one o'clock, the elegant 
grand stand, seated with chairs, and another built 
for the occasion, capable of seating over 5,000 
people, Avere filled to their utmost capacity. The 
infield was crowded and the outside fence was 
lined for half a mile with eager spectators. At 
least 20,000 people had assembled to witness the 



93 THE ALLER TON-NELSON RA CE. 

coming contest. At one o'clock, Nelson, driven 
by his groom, jogged by the stand, and was greet- 
ed by rounds of applause. After being driven 
two miles the reverse way of the track, Mr. Nel- 
son mounted the sulky, and as he did so, the 
cheers were deafening. Mr. Nelson bowed his 
acknowledgment. About five minutes later, 
Allerton, driven by his owner, appeared and re- 
ceived generous applause, which Mr. Williams ac- 
knowledged by lifting his cap. It was evident 
that the sympathies of the majority were with the 
Maine representative, as was but natural, after 
witnessing his previous performance here. Both 
stallions were in the pink of condition. Nelson 
looked fit for the race of his life, and the hand- 
some son of Jay Bird acted as though he knew 
that the honor of the mighty house he represent- 
ed depended upon his efforts. After being warm- 
ed up the stallions were taken to the barn to be 
cooled out and made ready for the coming race, 
that was being discussed from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, and the news of which was anxiously 
awaited at every telegraph office in the land. At 
1:30, Mr. Leathers rang the bell of the judge's 
stand and addressed the multitude, as follows: 
'Ladies and gentlemen, you have assembled here 
to-day to witness what I believe will be the great- 
est contest ever seen. The two trotting kin^s 



THE ALTER TON-NELSON RA CE. 99 

meet here to-day, to do battle for the highest hon- 
ors, Allerton, owned by C. W. Williams, of In- 
dependence, Iowa, with a record of 2: 09 J, and 
Nelson, owned by C. H. Nelson, of Waterville, 
Maine, with a record of 2:10, Both are wonder- 
ful stallions, and their performance to-day will oc- 
cupy a brilliant page in turf history. The purse 
is §10,000, all of which goes to the winner. The 
loser, however, will receive §500 for expenses. 
The horses are driven by their respective breeders 
and owners. In addition to the stallion race, 
there will be a 2:17 trotting class, for a purse of 
§1,000. President D. J. Campau, of the Detroit 
Association, will officiate as starting judge, the 
other judges being S. A. Browne, of Kalamazoo, 
C. L. Benjamin, of Saginaw, and L. C. Webb, of 
Macon. The timers are R. A. Munger, of De- 
troit, Thos. McAloon, of Bangor, Maine, and B. 
W. Tabor, of Independence, Iowa.' After the 
announcement, which was received with cheers, 
the first heat of the 2:17 trot was made, and then 
the track was smoothed for the champions. In 
the pools the prevailing odds were, Allerton §25, 
and Nelson §20. Last night some pools were sold 
at Allerton §120 to Nelson §100, and a few at $50 
even money. At the close of last night's sale, 
however, Allerton sold for §100 to §0(> for Nel- 
son. At two o'clock, Williams and Nelson weigh 



100 THE ALLER TON-NELSON RA CE. 

in, and Mr. Campau, tapping the bell for silence, 
said: 'The rules of the Association of which 
this Society is a member, require that when driv- 
ers are twenty pounds over weight, that it shall 
be announced. We find that Mr. Nelson weighs 
170 pounds, twenty pounds overweight, and Mr. 
Williams, 165 pounds, fifteen pounds overweight.' 
This announcement was somewhat of a surprise 
when some had been led to believe that Mr. Nel- 
son weighed thirty pounds overweight. While 
waiting for their horses to appear, the owners 
chatted pleasantly together in front of the judge's 
stand, the brilliant colors of the driver of the 
Maine horse in striking contrast to the plain grey 
suit worn by the Iowa man. Allerton and Nelson 
were led to the stand by their grooms, and, as 
the respective drivers, who were also the breeders, 
owners, and trainers of the horses, took their 
seats, the applause was deafening. Nelson drew 
the pole. At the third score they are sent away, 
with Nelson slightly in the lead, closely hugging 
the pole. At the first turn he has the advantage 
of half a length. At the quarter, which is reach 
ed in 32 seconds, Nelson has increased his lead to a 
length. Up the back stretch, Nelson goes very 
fast, but the Iowa stallion keeps his place a 
length in the rear, and they pass the half in 1:05 J, 
in the same position. Nelson now began to urge 



THE ALTER TON-NELSON RA CE. 101 

his flying stallion, and as they reached the second 
turn, his lead was increased two lengths. Wil- 
liams eased Allerton going round the turn. The 
three-quarter pole was passed in 1:39^. On 
straightening into the stretch, Allerton came 
on at a clip that was rapidly diminishing the 
distance between himself and Nelson. The 
crowds in the Amphitheatres were on their feet 
watching the result with breathless interest. At 
this critical moment, Allerton broke, and although 
he settled quickly, Nelson was at the distance 
stand, three lenghths in the lead, when he got on 
his stride. Nelson looked around and swung his 
whip over his head in triumph, but found it neces- 
sary to use it on the back of his flagging steed 
before he reached the wire. Allerton came on 
with an electrical burst of speed and was only a 
half length behind as they finished in 2:13. 

In spite of Nelson's winning the first heat, 
Allerton was still the favorite in the pools, bring- 
ing 825 against $17 for Nelson. They are oft at 
the first score in the second heat. Nelson drives 
his horse at the limit of his speed and passes the 
quarter in 32 J seconds, half a length ahead of 
Allerton. Going up the back stretch Nelson in- 
creased his lead, and as he passed the half in 1:06, 
Allerton is a length in the rear. Allerton closes 
up some of the gap going around the turn, and at 



102 THE ALLER TON-NELSON RA CE. 

the three-quarter, which is reached in 1:41 J, he is 
again but a length behind. As they come into the 
stretch Nelson increases his lead to two lengths. 
At the distance stand Nelson swerved directly in 
Allerton's path. It was only the beginning of the 
end. Nelson tried to rally his tiring horse with a 
vigorous use of the whip, and for a short distance 
he showed a wonderful brush, but the clip was too 
much for him, and when Allerton collared him 
twenty yards from the wire he had had enough, 
and Allerton won in the last few yards by half a 
length, in 2:14^, in one of the finest finishes ever 
witnessed. Intense excitement prevailed and pro- 
longed cheers greeted the Avinner. 

Before the third heat Allerton brought $25 to 
$6 for Nelson. That Nelson has for a short dis- 
tance a greater flight of speed than any horse on 
the turf, was demonstrated in the third heat. 
They are given the word for this heat with Nelson 
half a length in advance, and going at a much 
faster rate than Allerton. Before reaching the 
turn he has taken the pole, not, however, without 
a palpable foul as he pulled in front of Allerton, 
so that Mr. Williams had to take his horse back. 
Nelson is at the quarter in 32 seconds, with Aller- 
ton moving along easily three lengths in the rear. 
'Look at him! Look at him!' cried Nelson's 
friends, as on he sped, increasing his lead at every 



THE A LLER TON-NELSON RA CE. 103 

stride. 'Why, he's simply playing with Aller- 
ton.' But they forgot that he was racing with a 
horse who does not know what it is to give up, 
and who always goes the last quarter of the mile 
the fastest. Mr. Williams rated Allerton along 
easily; and some idea of the lead Nelson had ob- 
tained may be formed when it is stated that Nelson 
passed the half mile pole in 1:05J, Allerton pass- 
ing the same point in 1:07£. Nelson goes to the 
three-quarter pole in 1:40, and still Allerton has 
made no play for the heat. Even his friends be- 
gin to get a little nervous as they noticed the long 
lead of the Maine stallion. But coming down the 
home stretch the brown colt strikes a 2:00 gait, 
and as he comes up to Nelson it is all over; he 
passes him as though he were going the other 
way. Mr. Williams eases him up and he wins by 
three lengths in a jog; time, 2:15. No pools were 
sold before the fourth heat. In the previous heat 
Nelson wore .blinds, but he came out this time rig- 
ged as usual with an open bridle. Mr. Williams 
allows Nelson to set the pace, and they pass the 
quarter on even terms in i>3^; up the back stretch 
they go like a double team, and as they pass the 
half in 1:07£ it looks to the uninitiated like a pretty 
race; the three-quarter pole is reached in 1:42. 
At the distance Allerton begins to draw away. 
Nelson calls on his horse, but he has no brush left, 



104 THE ALLER TON-NELSON RA CE. 

seeing which Williams pulls up, and Allerton takes 
the heat in a jog in 2:16^, winning the race and 
the largest purse ever won by a trotting horse. 
The wildest excitement ever witnessed on a race 
track ensued. The air is filled with flying 
cushions, hats, etc. , and the applause is deafening. 
Allerton is presented with an elegant floral offer- 
ing in the shape of a full-sized blanket of cut 
roses. It was the most beautiful token imagina- 
ble. The donors were Mr. and Mrs. Hull, who 
presented it with the compliments of the Amul 
Kee Stock Farm. The time made in this race 
will be something of a surprise and disappoint- ' 
ment, but the day was not favorable, being cool 
and cloudy, and the track is by no means the 
fastest in the world. Mr. Williams gave Allerton 
as easy a race as possible, and it was evident that 
he could have gone much faster every heat. C. 
H. Nelson owes C. W. Williams an everlasting 
debt of gratitude for not humiliating him and 
making a show of his horse in the fourth heat, and 
in not doing so in view of all the circumstances 
surrounding the case, and the previous talk of 
Nelson, Mr. Williams displayed a magnanimity 
hardly to be expected. 

This performance should settle the question be- 
tween the two great stallions. While Nelson may 
be able to show a greater flight of speed for a short 



THE ALLERTON-NELSON RACE. 



105 



distance than the great Allerton, he cannot stay and 
trot a long drawn out race in fast time. Nelson, 
without doubt, is a great horse, but Allerton, the 
son of Jay Bird, is a greater. 




106 THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 



CHAPTER XIII.. 

THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 

Immediately after his victory at Grand Rapids, 
Allerton was shipped to Lexington, Kentucky, to 
fulfill his engagement with Nancy Hanks at that 
place on the 15th of October. 

No sooner had the great stallion arrived on the 
grounds than, strange to say, the Happy Medium 
mare was taken suddenly ill. 

This was a sore disappointment to Mr. Wil- 
liams, as he was anxious to meet the mare and 
give Allerton an opportunity to again try con- 
clusions with her. Mr. Doble suggested that as 
Mr. Williams had made the journey and the mare 
was not in condition to start, that he would sub- 
stitute Delmarch, 2:11^, in her stead. This Mr. 
Williams at first refused to do, but finally con- 
sented. 

To outsiders this looked an easy race for Aller- 
ton, and such it proved to be. But developments 
just before the start go a long way to show that 
the favored ones thought that under the skilfull 



THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 107 

hand of Doble, the little bay stallion could 

vanquish the king. There are times when the 

pool-box is a good indicator. The Horseman gives 
a short account as follows: 

k 'The event of the day was the special. In 
last night's pooling Allerton was the favorite, sell- 
ing for $1,000 to $650 for Delmarch. When the 
race was called, after the first heat in the pace, 
there were 25,000 people present. All the avail- 
able space in both stands was taken, thousands in 
the infield, while the speculators were content to 
be in front of the stand, that they might have 
easy access to the box. Delmarch drew the pole 
and went to the post on even terms, and some 
pools sold with Delmarch the favorite, at $100 to 
$90. He was inclined to break before the start. 
They got the word on the fifth score. Doble set 
the pace. Williams laid on his wheel with the 
king and came the mile with ease. Doble called 
on Delmarch at the distance. Allerton was now 
on even terms, and soon was in the lead. Del- 
march failed to respond. He was not the same 
horse as at Cambridge City or Terre Haute. He 
did not respond; he was beaten. The son of Jay 
Bird was sure the king of racing stallions. He 
was never urged, winning with seeming ease and 
speed to spare in 2: IS \. 



108 THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 

Delmarch stock took quite a tumble, as every- 
one wanted to get their money on Allerton, and he 
sold for $50 — and the wise, speculators could not 
get enough of it, while the suckers bought Del- 
march. 

The only chance Allerton had to lose was to 
fall down. The next heats were without incident, 
as Allerton took the lead from the word; Delmarch 
could not get to his wheel, and they were easy 
heats for the great stallion. 

The applause was long and loud, and many a 
warm and enthusiastic hand-shake did C. W. Wil- 
liams receive. He was a proud man. He looked 
it as he dismounted from his seat and was sur- 
rounded by the vast throng that gathered to be 
near the great stallion, and to see and shake the 
hand of the man who had bred and trained two 
of the greatest stallions known to the present 
age." 

Allerton is quite a source of revenue to his 
owner. Here, in less than two weeks, his winnings 
amount to $18,000, and no entrance fees. That's 
the kind of a trotter to own. 

The race at Lexington practically concluded 
Allerton\s turf career for the season of 1891. He 
was driven a few easy miles at the Independence 



THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 109 

fall meeting in 2:11 or 2:12, but was not asked to 
go fast again during the season. Allerton went 
into winter quarters at the close of the season of 
1891 a better horse than he ever was before, and 
his prospects for the season of 1892 are the 
brightest. 



Arrangements have been made for these two 
giants of the turf, Allerton and Axtell, to meet 
at Rush Park, Independence, Iowa, in August of 
1892, and trot for a purse of $10,000 all to go to 
the winner. It will be worth a journey of thous- 
ands of miles to witness the contest. For, bear 
in mind, there will be no pulling in this affair, it 
will oe a horse race. 

And now, dear reader, we have about fulfilled 
our mission. Suffice it to recount in a few words 
the grand result attained by this prince of all 
horsemen, C. W. Williams. The first two colts 
ever foaled his property have accomplished the 
following: 

One at three years of age was driven to a 
record of 2:12, the world's stallion record, and 
was sold for 8105,000. The other is, at five years 
of age, by all conceded to be the greatest race 
horse the world has ever seen, with a record of 
2:09J, and for him was offered 8200,000. 



110 THE KIND OF A TROTTER TO OWN. 

These horses command a service fee of 11,000 
each. Not more than six trotting horses in the 
world command so high a price, and these are 
two of them. 

As a parting salute, I adjure you, see the great 
Allerton and Axtell race in 1892. 

"All hail to regal Allerton! 

The king is on his throne; 
For power and pluck and speed combined 

He simply stands alone. 

A race horse! yes, from wire to wire: 

Majestic, perfect, grand, 
He stands without a par on earth 

In any clime or land." 




'(£> (s & &) N 



1831. SIXTY-SECOND YEAR. 1892. 

C. AULTMAN & CO., 



MANUFACTURERS OF 



THRESHERS AND ENGINES. 




OFFICERS: 

LEWIS MILLER, 

President. 

C. L. JONES, 

Vice-President. 

ROBERT A. MILLER, 

General Manager. 

J. A. LINVILLE, 

Secretary. 



Note— Letters of inquiry 
for prices of cur different 
machines and terms of sale, 
and application for agencies 
and the address of agents, 
should be addressed to our 
office nearest to your place 
of residence, or to the home 
office at Canton, Ohio. 

All inquiries v/ill receive 
prompt and careful atten- 
tion. 



Home Office of the Company 




CANTON, O., U. S. A. 



BRANCH OFFICES AND GENERAL AGENCIES: 
C AULTMAN & CO., Cincinnati. O. 

iS and 20 W. Randolph St., Chicago. 111. 
Fargo, N. Dak. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 



C. AULTMAN & CO., 
C. AULTMAN & CO., 
C. AULTMAN & CO , 
C. AULTMAN & CO., Louisville. Ky. 
KINGMAN & CO., Kansas Citv, Mo. 
KINGMAN & CO., Lincoln. Neb. 
CHAS. H. DODD & CO., Portland, Ore. 
C. AULTMAN & CO., Chattanooga, Tenn. 
C. AULTMAN & CO., Minneapolis, Minn. 
C. AULTMAN & CO., Mechanicsburg, Pa, 
C. AULTMAN & CO., Cedar Rapids, la. 
C. AULTMAN & CO.. Madison, Wis. 
MANSUR & TEBBETTS IMPLEMENT CO. 
MANSUR & TEBBETTS IMPLEMENT CO.. 



St. Louis. Mo. 
New Orleans, La, 



MANSUR & TEBBETTS IMPLEMENT CO., Dallas. Tex. 



J. W. MERCER, 

Original, Eclectic, Reformation Trainer, 



DRIVER OF INCAS, 2:141 



in^IDEIFIEItTIDEILTaiE, IA. 

JOHN HUSSEY, 

TRAINER AND DRIVER, 

INDEPENDENCE, IOWA. 



•Special Attention Given to Handling and De- 
veloping Colts. 



STABbE AT RUSH PARK. 



EMPIRE HQUSE, 

INDEPENDENCE, IOWA. 



Four Blocks from Rush Park. Three Blocks from 
Post Office. 



Good Sample IJootas. Tfates $2.00 J>ef fl&y. 



A. J. BOWXEY, Manager. 

''Breeding Investigated," 

"Catalogues Compiled," 

"Pedigrees Tabulated," 

"Terms Reasonable " 



WRITE FOR PRICES AND SAMPLE OF WORK, TO 
HILLIS ADY, 

Atalissa, Iowa. 



HHLROUft 

^ CEDAR RAPIDS > 



-Solid Trains 

BETWEEN 

Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Paul, 

Via the Famous Albert Lea Route. 

St. Louis, Minneapolis and St. Paul, 

Via St. Louis, Minneapolis & St. Paul Short Line, 

AND 

THROUGH SLEEPERS AND CHAIR CARS 

BETWEEN 

Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Chicago Cedar 

Rapids and Sioux Falls, So. Dak. 

CHICAGO AND CEDAR RAPIDS, 

Via the Famous Albert Lea Route. 

THE SHORT LINE 

no 

-#. SPIRIT LAKE,#- 

THE GREAT IOWA SUMMER RESORT. 

For Railway and Hotel Rates, Descriptive Pamphlets and all information, 
address Gen'l Ticket and Passenger Agent. Also 

FOR CHEAP HOMES 

On line of this road in Northwestern Iowa, Southwestern Minnesota and 
Central Dakota, where drought and crop failures are unknown. Thousands 
of choice acres of land yet unsold. Local Excursion rates given. For 
full information as to prices of land and rates of fare, address Gen'l 
Ticket and Passenger Agent. 

All of the Passenger Trains on all Divisions of this Railway are 
heated by Steam from the engine, and the Main Line Day Passenger 
Trains are lighted with the Electric Light. 

Maps, Time Tables, Through Rates and all information furnished on 
application to Agents. Tickets on sale over this route at all prominent 
points in the Union, and by its Agents, to all parts of the United States 
and Canada. 
C. J. IVES, J. E.HANNEGAN, 

Pres't & Gen'l Supt. Gen'l Tkt. & Pass. Agt. 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
II II III 



002 829741 5 




